2006 Work Plan Summary*

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Key Site: Luang Prabang, Laos; National Agricultural and Forestry Research Center (NAFReC)

IRRI team : S Pandey (WG Leader), E Javier, D Johnson, C Vera Cruz
Luang Prabang team : Khamok Songyikhangsutor (Key Site Coordinator), Kouang Doungsila,, Khamla Panthaboun, Bantasak Vongphoutone, Bounthanh Keoboulapha, Somai Yasongkoua, Viengmany Navongxay, Bounsaveng, Visone Songnoukhai, Khamxer Yangcoua Teng, Thani Homchidsavath, Khamphou Phouyyavong

• Conduct two sorts of participatory varietal selection trials to let farmers evaluate promising varieties for short-fallow sloping upland rotational systems. The PVS-I will have farmers test a total of six early-duration glutinous, six medium-duration glutinous, five medium-duration nonglutinous, and seven medium-duration nonglutinous varieties. PVS-II, an adaptive trial, will have farmers test early-medium glutinous and early-medium nonglutinous varieties in combination with fertilizer applications. Each farmer will grow one to two new varieties in larger plots compared to PVS-I to evaluate against their best local varieties.
• Analyze data on multilocational PVS trials conducted over the years for different varietal groups to gain better insights on varietal performance and farmers’ preferences.
• Scale up a pigeon pea/sticklac fallow system as a practice to enrich soil fertility in short-fallow systems and to help control the weedy species Imperata cylindrica. The pigeon pea can host the Laccifer lacca parasite, which when properly managed, can produce sticklac, a marketable resin for making dyes, waxes, shellac and varnishes.
• Evaluate other nonrice crops for their suitability for rice-based systems. Field demonstrations of soybean varieties grown in an upland rice-soybean rotation in the wet season in more favorable areas (valley bottom), as well as after rice in the lowland dry seasons will be conducted. Soybeans provide a cash crop to enhance rural livelihood and also enhance soil fertility as a nitrogen-fixing species. The rice-rice bean rotation will be repeated on-farm and on-station.
• Demonstrate to farmers at on-station trials the effectiveness of glyphosate herbicide treatments as an option for controlling Imperata cylindrica.
• Conduct trainings to develop NARES’ partners’ skills in participatory research methods, data analysis and project report writing, and English language skills.
• Develop fact sheets and decision tools for new management practices into extension materials that can be disseminated to targeted audiences.
• Conduct sensory evaluations of raw and cooked rice in order to evaluate the acceptability of new rice varieties to rice consumers. Grain quality will also be tested at IRRI.
• Multiply seeds receiving positive farmers’ feedback for widespread dissemination and additional PVS trials in 2007.