Champassak harvests 90 per cent of monsoon rice

(KPL) Farmers in Champassak have already harvested 90 percent of the rainy season rice crop with an estimated yield of around 337,000 tonnes, according to Head of Plantation Division, Champasak Agriculture and Forestry Service.

Mr. Xaythongyoth Nammavongsa, whose post is mentioned earlier, said last week that most farmers began their rice harvesting in mid-November and is expected to be over this month.

Over 96,300 ha have been planted with rice during the rainy season. The figure is 1,561 ha over the target set by the provincial agriculture and forestry service.

“For the coming dry season,” said Mr Xaythongyoth, “if the target 10,000 ha of rice cultivation was achieved, the yield is estimated around 54,000 tonnes of rice.”

The province has mobilised local private businesses and financial institutes in promoting rice production in the province to ensure food security.

“To achieve the target, our division is preparing irrigation facilities to supply enough water for 11,434 ha of farmland,” said Mr. Sivone Sisomboune, Head of the Irrigation Division, Agriculture and Forestry Service of this southernmost province.

“However, we are waiting for a financial allocation of 4.7 billion kip from the government for the repair of 11 irrigation facilities, which mostly have been destroyed by recent floods,” added Mr. Sivone.

Source: KPL Lao News Agency
December 18, 2009