Dry season rice yield falling short of target
Less rice was planted this dry season with the government reducing the target from last year, largely due to the lack of irrigation. Speaking at the ongoing National Assembly session recently Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Souphanh Keomixay said farmers had planted about 84,580 hectares of rice, equal to 89 percent of the amount planned.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. Last dry season, the department encouraged farmers around the country to grow 126,000 hectares of rice but they planted only 98,000 hectares.
