Commercial Crops In Vientiane Impacted By Drought

Source: Vientiane Times

Various projects in Vientiane for the promotion of dry season commercial crops have been impact by a drought and the lack of water in irrigation systems.

The rice plantation project in the four districts of Xaythany, Hadxaifong, Naxaithong and Pakngum, planned to grow rice on 660 hectares and planted crops on 672 hectares. However, crops could be harvested in only 500 hectares, according to the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department.

This project is being implemented in cooperation with several agricultural entrepreneurs, especially the Insithong, Phanphet and Chaengsavang companies.

Another project for white rice plantation, which supplies rice to processing units, planned to grow paddy on 2,700 hectares but was able to harvest crops in only 650 hectares.

A maize plantation promotion project planned to grow crops on 402 hectares but was able to plant crops in only 246 hectares. Several organic agriculture and good agriculture product promotion projects too weren’t able to achieve their targets.

However, local farmers have been able to achieve their targets for growing vegetables and other crops in many areas.

The department planned to support farmers to grow vegetables on 6,818 hectares with a production target of 73,838 tonnes. The farmers were able to plant their crops in 7,181 hectares and the total production was 77,770 tonnes.

There were plans to grow dry season industrial crops such as cassava and maize on 1,625 hectares but farmers were able to plant them in 1,775 hectares.

To ensure food security and the supply of products on commercial basis in order to implement the agriculture, forestry and rural development plan for 2020, the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department will support local farmers to plant crops on 52,080 hectares, with a target yield of 4.53 tonnes a hectare for a total production of 235,862 tonnes.

The department plans to promote the growing of several vegetables on 3,964 hectares with a target yield of 9.53 tonnes a hectare and total production of 37,775 tonnes. It will also promote the growing of fruits on 750 hectares with a target yield of 18.35 tonnes a hectare and a total production of 13,945 tonnes.

The department will also promote commercial crops such as maize on 603 hectares with a target yield of 4.71 tonnes a hectare and total production of 2,843 tonnes. For this, it will cooperate with agricultural entrepreneurs in the five districts of Xaythany, Naxaithong, Hadxaithong, Pakngum and Sangthong.

Besides, it will promote the growing of cassava on more than 1,200 hectares with a target yield of 24 tonnes a hectare and total production of almost 30,000 tonnes to supply tapioca and animal feed processing unit.

The department will also continue to cooperate with international organisations, particularly the Clean Agriculture Development Project, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, to promote the growing of organic agriculture and good agriculture products on 230 hectares for a total production of almost 2,000 tonnes.