1. Validated Rice Cultivars for Rice-based Systems of the Northern Mountainous Region, Lao PDR to The 15 th NAFRI Anniversary Symposium on Agriculture and Forestry Research for Development Validated Rice Cultivars for Rice-based Systems of the Northern Mountainous Region, Lao PDR to The 15 th NAFRI Anniversary Symposium on Agriculture and Forestry Research for Development April 9 th -10 th, 2014 at NAFRI meeting hall, Vientiane, Lao PDR by Khamdok SONGIYKHANGSUTHOR Houmchitsavath SODARAK, Koung DOUANGSILA, Benjamin. K. SAMSON

2. Introduction Laos achieved rice self-sufficiency in 1999 ◦ But upland farmers and households are still rice-deficient Uplands of Lao PDR are located in northern part and along the Laos-Vietnamese border - central and southern regions. Uplands also provide a range of agro-ecological that enable farmers to grow cash crops, paper mulberry, cassava, beans, and other crops Farmers with more lowland had better food security than farmers with lest lowland. ◦ 73% of households reported at least 1 year of rice deficiency in 10 years (1995-2005). ◦ Only 17% of households with lowland reported at least one year of rice deficiency during the same period

3. Rice in livelihoods Upland rice areas in northern Laos comprised to 57 % of total rice production areas. ◦ Rice remains a major crop in the mountainous ◦ But rice’s share in household income is small and declining Rural non-farm activities a major source of household incomes Improved technologies that can increases rice yield or income

4. Crop diversifications in upland environments

5. Geography of Laos Area of 236,800 sq km 80% of the country is mountainous;. Many mountains are >2000 m in height. Seventeen provinces and one capital Three region; North, Central and South

6. Rational of the studies Lack of high quality seeds, Limited access to public services and advanced technologies Poorly developed transport and irrigation Marketing infrastructures

7. Research Areas Phongsali Lung Namtha Bokeo Oudomxai Houaphan Sayaboury Luang Prabang Xieng Khouang

8. Materials Multi-environment yield trials ◦ Eight provinces of the northern region of Lao PDR: Sayabuly, LuangPrabang, Oudomxai, LuangNamtha, Bokeo, Phongsaly, Houaphanh, and Xiengkhuang. ◦ Elevation of field sites ranged from 300 m to 1300 m. 7 lines and cultivars were used ◦ Laboun, Non, Nok, and Makhinsoung - traditional cultivars ◦ IR55423-1, B6144F-MR-6, IR60080-46A - improved

9. Methods Seeds were direct-seeded on dry soil. Crops were managed according to local practice. Data from 2003 to 2009 were included in the analysis. Data were tabulated and graphically evaluated. Preference analyses by farmers were conducted prior to harvest

10. Mean grain yield and their yield advantage over local varieties Varieties Grain yield (kg/ha) Grain yield advantage (kg/ha) Grain yield advantage (%) Laboun2080a381122 Non2038ab339120 IR60080-46A2034ab334120 B6144F-MR-62017ab318119 Nok1887abc188111 IR55423-11867 bc167110 Makhinsoung1857 bc157109 Local1700 c0100 SE(N= 99)76 5%LSD 780DF210 PR>F0.0001

11. Mean annual grain yield in northern provinces Provinces Annual grain yield (kg/ha) Mean (kg) 2003200420052006200720082009 Luangprabang19082037199520361663140716101808 Oudomxai22391861160413362881105717711821 Houphanh--194121841615--1913 Luangnamtha13111830203513411957--1695 Phongsaly178313511860---14671615 Sayabuly1843278427202712--13132275 XiengKuang1886149713832128--11871616 Bokeo26272810152316932893--2309 Mean (kg)19422024188319192202123214691882 SE(N= 99)187 5%LSD 780DF518 PR>F0.000

12. Grain yield of each rice lines and cultivars in northern Provinces VarietiesBokeo Houa phanh Luang namtha Luang prabang Oudom xai Phongsal y Sayabul y Xieng khuang B6144F-MR-617101659188718142511145837482233 IR55423-117061974178917531508109135951344 IR60080-46A17203577227618282913162844962133 Local17041934168616681456162722511524 Laboun16881954180720402680147031602294 Makhinsoung17892148181716972108205217612366 Nok13801951163818812074108621082700 Non24781953168319932040202820721928 SE(N= 12)205 5%LSD 724DF570 PR>F0.0000

13. Positive and negative characteristics mentioned by farmers

14. Amount of rice seed distributed Varieties Seeds distribution in each year (kg) 20052006200720082009 Nok3023022025853317 Makhinsoung2010020010792207 Laboun20250 3401145 Non2030-70527 IR55423-15203050163 B6144F-MR-610800200025165 Total1051430270041497524

15. Number of farmers and amount of seed Variety 200620072008 Farmers Amount of seed (kg) Farmers Amount of seed (kg) Farmers Amount of seed (kg) Nok52.58220502585 Makhinsoung52.57200271079 Laboun52.51010020800 Non52.5410050450 IR55423-152.5230350 B6144F-MR-652.55090070850

16. Upland 1 villages 2 farmers 1 kg Upland 1 villages 2 farmers 1 kg Upland 1 villages 20 farmers 800 kg Upland 1 villages 20 farmers 800 kg Upland 1 villages 10 farmers 100 kg Upland 1 villages 10 farmers 100 kg Laboun Variety spread by farmer to farmer 2007 2008 2006 Upland 1 villages 2 farmers 1 kg Upland 1 villages 2 farmers 1 kg Upland 3 villages 50 farmers 450 kg Upland 3 villages 50 farmers 450 kg Upland 1 villages 4 farmers 100 kg Upland 1 villages 4 farmers 100 kg Non Upland 5 villages 5 farmers 2.5 kg Upland 5 villages 5 farmers 2.5 kg Lowland 10 villages 24 farmers 520 kg Lowland 10 villages 24 farmers 520 kg Upland 8 villages 26 farmers 380 kg Upland 8 villages 26 farmers 380 kg B6144F-MR-6

17. Lessons and opportunities Participatory varietals selection ◦ Farmers selected varieties meeting their requirements ◦ Researchers gained a better understanding of the varietals characteristics needed by farmers Improving upland rice yields ◦ Highest yield advantage by improved varieties – 47-85% ◦ Highest yield advantage by glutinous and non- glutinous varieties – 21%

18. Lessons and opportunities (cont) Improving upland rice yields ◦ Genetic donors for tolerance to “yield decline” identified Development of high yielding improved glutinous rice varieties with desirable qualities is feasible Upland rice cultivars were develop fact sheets and decision support tools in local languages – Extension worker and Farmers

19. Some extension tools for validate cultivars

20. Thanks you for your attention