Out in the countryside, where rice cultivation is the principleactivity, working on the paddy fields is a communal activity thatoccupies the whole family and relatives.

A fact that can be overlooked is that women make up animportant part of the work force, and that many of the farmingtasks fall upon women. Ms. La from Hor Kang Village in PhaxayDistrict of Xieng Khouang Province, is one of these womenfarmers. When a Farmer Field School came to her village, she wasvery interested in joining, and she went to participate.

A farmer’s view on learning new rice techniquesInterview with Ms. La

Farmer and participant in a Farmer Field School, Xieng Khouang Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Ms. La during her training in new rice cultivation techniques

Farmers learning at a training session in the field

The Farmer Field School programme is implemented by theMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry and the provincial anddistrict offices, supported by FAO, and aims at promoting newtechniques and a more comprehensive understanding of theagricultural landscape, that can be combined with their traditionalmethods and the farmer’s own knowledge. These two sourcesof know-how, when put together, become a powerful approachto rice cultivation that is well adapted to the Lao countryside.

The application of these new techniques is in line with theGovernment Green Growth Strategy and sustainable developmentgoals as they aim to ensure food security and enable farmersto move from subsistence farming to profit-based farming. Theincreased profits will therefore also reduce poverty.

Farmers out in the rice landscape which includes thesurrounding environment and ecosystems

A new dimension – that has been welcomed by the farmers – islearning about the rice ecosystem. Before, growing rice was allabout the rice standing in the field, and also about traditionalbeliefs. It is now being widened to the management of entire ricelandscapes, the biodiversity of plants around the cultivated area,insects and their life cycles, and fish farming in the rice field.

in order to increase production, reduce inputs, save costsand be more efficient. Improved crop establishment anddevelopment during early crop growth stages is largely due tothe use of less seed and younger seedlings more widelytransplanted compared to local practice.

“The trainers taught us the first steps - how to sow the seeds,spread the seed out widely, transplant the rice with just a fewseedlings with wide spaces between the growing spots.“

By following the guidelines, and adapting them to their ownsituation, the farmer uses less seeds and transplants lessseedlings, thus requiring fewer supplies.

“Before we did farming in a traditional way using lots ofgrains for growing rice. For one hectare we used 100-200 kg.”

In fact, savings on seed has been between 9% and 64%,depending on the province, and this has even given an increase inrice production when accompanied by other improvementtechniques. A speciality and indigenous variety of rice, calledKao Kai Noi, has also been used to raise yields and allowfarmers to obtain higher market prices. These techniquesreduce production costs and increase income.

“Before we did farming with our parents, we never knewabout the ecosystem. But now the teacher has brought us tostudy the ecosystem, he brings us to survey the rice field.”

The farmer trainers bring the participants of the FarmerField Schools out to study the ecosystem, to observe therice fields and survey the biodiversity.

The Farmer Field Schools train the participants to becomeefficient farm managers. The training takes two forms – theoryand practical. First come the basics about how to grow rice

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Recognising the insects that help the rice plants and those thatdamage the crops is a vital part of the learning about the ecosystem

Women are heavily involved in rice cultivation andactively participate in the learning and sharing process

There are other ways that the environment can naturally beused to help the crops. The farmers learn how to makingbio-fertilizer by producing liquid extracted from organicmaterial. By applying the fertilizer to the rice at the right time,the yield can also be multiplied.

The farmers are learning by doing - that enables them to seethe realities in the rice field

She also keeps a close eye on the water, which is an integraland important part of the paddy environment.

“After transplanting we have learnt how to manage thewater, knowing the appropriate level for the rice. We makesure that the water is at the right level, not too much nottoo little. Before, we never cared about water manage-ment. We did it in the ancient way.”

All of these techniques encourage the farmers to becomeefficient farm managers. The new techniques have enabledthe farmers to increase productivity and to developan intensive sustainable agriculture.

“After that, the trainers explained to us how to increaseproductivity. In the past, we never learnt how to farm.Since the trainers have come to teach us, we have gaineda lot of benefits.”

Ms. La found that she could achieve significant outcomesfrom her newly acquired knowledge.

“We work less and gain more productivity than ever before.Previously, the farmers in the district could produce anaverage of 3.5 to 4 tons per hectare. But now, after the FarmerField School project, farmers easily produce a yield of 4.5 tonsper hectare with some farmers achieving 6.5 to 7 tons.”

“Before, we destroyed all the insects and plants. We didnot know which were the good or bad insects, so weeliminated all of them.”

Rice cultivation requires understanding the plant and theanimal life. An example in particular is learning about insectsand their life cycles. The trainers demonstrate out in the fieldthat there are beneficial and harmful insects - those that eatthe rice - and also those that feed on insects eating the rice!

Looking after the whole ecosystem for creating healthy andproductive rice – creating a “Green Rice Landscape” –requires taking care of the environment. The trainers teachthat the use of pesticides, herbicides and other agrochemicalsshould be avoided, that insecticides should be eliminated.

Ms. La takes the lessons she has learnt and also the care ofher paddy fields very seriously.

“Later, after the transplanting of the rice, we will go to takecare of it. We often get together amongst farmers aftertransplanting to look after the rice.”

Speaking from her position as a woman farmer, this changehas not left her indifferent.

“It increases productivity and reduces the labour of women,it reduces it a lot.”

Another enormous evolution is in the labour required toproduce the rice. Before, the farmers had to hire extra workers- for example, one hectare would require 50-60 labourers tohelp transplant the rice. Now, with the new techniques thereis reduction of labour at planting, weeding and harvestingthrough low cost mechanisation.

However, there is a more profound social impact of these newapproaches to agriculture and to paddy cultivation – and that isthe condition of women.

Supported by

Regional Rice Initiative

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ContactFAO Regional Office for Asia and the PacificMaliwan Mansion, Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.Phone: (+66 2) 697 4000; Fax: (+66 2) 697 4445E-mail: FAO-RAP@fao.org