to cultivate change Enhancing Sustainable Cassava Productivity in Lao PDR through Improved Varieties, Better Agronomic Practices and Improved Market Linkages: 15 th NAFRI Symposium NAFRI, Vientiane, Lao PDR April 2014

to cultivate change A review of CIAT-NAFRI cassava research over the past decade T.M. Aye a., K. Fahrney a, P. Khanthavong c, Lao Thao b, A. M. Bolliger b J. Newby b a International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Hanoi, Vietnam b International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Vientiane, Lao PDR c National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Vientiane, Lao PDR Acknowledgements: Donors: Nippon Foundation and IFAD Partners: NAFRI, PAFOs and DAFOs, NUoL

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) o The crop originated in Latin America (Brazil) o Known as ‘Man Ton’ in Laos o First cultivated approx. 5, ,000 years ago o Spanish merchants introduced it into Southeast Asia

What is cassava? Cassava is a perennial starchy root crop. It is not only one of the most important food crops in many tropical regions, it is also used as an animal feed and for industrial purposes. Note! The main value of cassava is the starchy roots, but its leaves contain about 20–30 % protein on a dry weight basis. Cassava roots are a low-cost energy source which can be eaten by people or fed to animals and sold for cash. Alternatively the roots can be sold at the market or to processors for industrial use, thus generating income for farmers. Cassava leaves are high in protein, vitamins and minerals and can be eaten by people or fed to livestock.

Processing of cassava Food Feed Industrial uses Fuel Bio-plastic, etc.

Improved varieties derived from CIAT research cover about 90% of the cassava area in Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s two biggest exporters of cassava products, and 80% of the GMS Production increases resulting from these varieties have generated benefits worth about US$12 billion over the last two decades Cassava in Lao PDR Production: 174,490t in 2006 to 1,060,880t in 2012 Yields: 10 t/ha in 2006 to 24 t/ha 2013 Small Farmers Cash in on Cassava Boom

Cassava in China Cassava area Limited room for expansion due to competition with other crops and bioclimatic suitability Main Cassava Provinces

Cassava Production Systems in Lao PDR  Production - mainly by smallholder farmers  Land preparation - by hoe or plowing by animal or power tillers  Planting - at early wet season with traditional methods  No fertilizers or very little amounts of fertilizers  Weeding - 2 times at one and two months after planting  Harvesting - at months after planting

Research Focus Selection of most suitable varieties o Yield and starch content o Dual purpose (eating and processing) o Starch quality o Suitability to higher altitudes and cold tolerant Agronomy o Fertilizer rates o Effective weed control o Intercropping for income and erosion control o Direct erosion control (contours, etc.) o Seasonality (time of planting & harvest) to ↑ feedstock

CountryCassava variety Thailand> 600 ChinaY IndonesiaY VietnamY Cambodia22 Lao PDR51 Myanmar9 World Cassava Germplam Collection at CIAT  Over 6,000 accessions Genetics: Suitable cassava varieties

Different cassava varieties for different starch quality

MEcu 72 70% Mortality of Nymphal Instars (Antibiosis) 72% Reduced Oviposition (Antixenosis) Cassava germplasm evaulated for whitefly (Aleurotrachelus socialis) resistance. Genotypes evaluated; 5363 Selected for resistance 40 Resistant genotypes MEcu 64 MEcu 19 MPer 334 MPer 415 MPer 273 MPer 611 MPer 317 MPer 216 MPer 349 MPer 322 MPer 331 MPer 385 MPer 463 MBra 292 MBra 1432 MCol 148 MCol 2315 Different cassava varieties for different pest and disease resistance

Different cassava varieties for different plant types o testing for possible recommendation directly as new cultivars Improvements of smallholder cassava production

Cassava variety Roots yield (t/ha) Starch content (%) Starch yield (t/ha) HCN (ppm) KU Rayong Rayong KM Rayong Rayong NARC Ba Trang Hanatee NARC Vinh Phu NARC Nep Green Oudomxay Cassava variety evaluation trial at ARC in 2006/07 and 2007/08 (11 months after planting)

New CloneYield (t/ha)Starch (%)Starch (t/ha) SM SM SM SM SM SM Local XKH Cassava Clonal Evaluation in Laos ( ) Cassava Clonal Evaluation in Nonghed district, Xieng Khoung, Lao PDR Elevation 1318 masl N 19 ْ 30’ 23.0” E 104 ْ 03’ 47.6” Improvements for smallholder farmers

Average Yield - Abiotic and biotic, management constraints -Socio-economic limitation 90 Biological Potential Yield under Optimum Growing Condition Yields of 80 tons of fresh roots per ha per year (29 tons of dry roots per ha per year). Yields of 30 tons of dry roots per ha per year appear to be close to the theoretical yield limit without supplementary irrigation. Comparative advantage of cassava is under sub-optimal conditions Contribution of Various Inputs Cassava root yield (t/ha/year) Impact: Genetics + Agronomy

New improved varieties Weeding Fertility management Intercropping Erosion Control + Pests & Diseases + Processing + Marketing Improved Genetics + Agronomy + ….

Good land preparation Agronomic practices

Healthy and Clean Planting materials: o Stakes from mature plants are the best o Free from pests and diseases o Quality of planting stakes depends on:  Age of stem (8 – 18 months)  Thickness of stem (1 cm radius)  Number of nodes (4 -7 nodes)

o Nutrient depletion due to continuous cropping without fertilizers

P deficiency in Xieng Khouang, Laos Soil Fertility Management o Identify the soil nutrient constraints o Improve the efficiency of fertilizer applications K deficiency in Kampong Cham, Cambodia

Effect of P fertilizer application on the root yields of two cassava varieties in Xieng Khouang province of Lao PDR

With adequate and well- balanced fertilizer application, high yields can be maintained for at least 30 years of continuous cassava production on the same land in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Lao PDR: Fertilizer rates (returns on investment x 4)

Intercropping: control weeds but also intensify land resource, stabilize cash flow and prevent soil erosion

Intercropping Systems

Treatment Cassava root yield (t/ha) Intercrop grain yield (t/ha) Cassava with soy bean (Glycine max) Cassava with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Cassava (monocrop)23.7- Cassava with mung bean (Vigna radiata) Cassava with rice bean (Vigna umbellata) Cassava intercropping trial at ARC in 2007

27 Conventional weed control  Hand weeding  Short-handled tool weeding  Hoe weeding Mostly done by women and children! Integrated weed management in cassava production is important!

Harvesting Reduce Costs of cassava production

Laos o Production still small, but expanding – along with processing Production in Lao PDR Opportunities from improved cassava production

Witches-broom Disease Lao PDR 2010 Cassava mealybugs Pests and Diseases of Cassava Control P. manihoti

Farmer Participatory Research and Extension (FPR&E) methodologies are used in these activities, which are undertaken in collaboration with provincial and district agriculture staff so as to increase the chances for local innovation and adoption. Knowledge sharing and networking among cassava communities within the region is also the best way to sustain cassava research and development in Lao PDR.

Current price of fresh cassava roots which farmers received in various countries and Lao PDR (Prices variation between lowest and highest prices)

 Local animal feed  Feed processing  Starch and modified starch processing  Sweeteners  Bio-ethanol, etc. Aims for production of cassava roots Great potential domestic and export markets as dry chips and/or process into value-added products at factories  Extremely rapid growth rates in utilization of cassava in the Southeast Asia countries as well as other countries particularly China Demand for commercial cassava production

Conclusions  In Lao PDR, the prospects for increased cassava productivity in the immediate future are very bright  This sector should be focused on more sustainable production and processing systems as well as better markets in a holistic manner  Capacity building and investment would be essential in national cassava research and extension systems  Collaboration with regional and international research institutions  Private and public partnership is also important to success cassava sector in Lao PDR

35 Thank you very much!