Lao dry season rice yield falls short of target

Less rice was planted this dry season in Laos with the government reducing the target from last year, largely due to the lack of irrigation.

Speaking at the ongoing National Assembly session in Lao capital Vientiane, Minister of Planning and Investment Souphanh Keomixay said farmers had planted about 84,580 hectares of rice, or some 89 percent of the amount planned, according to Lao state-run media Vientiane Times on Thursday.

However, the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reported that farmers had planted 90,000 hectares of rice or 95 percent of the area planned, citing the latest figures. This dry season, the department set a target of 95,000 hectares but until now only about 90,000 hectares have been planted out.

Last dry season, the department encouraged farmers around the country to grow 126,000 hectares of rice but they planted only 98,000 hectares, Vientiane Times quoted the department as saying.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Irrigation, a large number of farmers were growing other crops instead, which earned them more money and required less water. The lack of irrigation occurred because provinces did not have sufficient funds to pay for the repair of irrigation systems.

The department had submitted a proposal to the government through the ministry to seek more funding for irrigation. Endit