REPORT TO AID/W ON CONSULTATION ASSIGNMENT WITH USAID/LAOS : RICE DRYING, STORAGE, & MILLING IN LAOS (9/15/68-9/28/68)

Report is based on observatns. Laos does not have sufficient rice productn to satisfy consumer needs. New rice varieties requiring less growing time & responsive to fertilizer have been developed. When irrigatn is possible these new varieties allow farmers to grow 2 crops/yr on the same land. Problems which result with increased rice productn include the following: 1) the harvest gathered at the beginning of the wet season is difficult to dry by traditional methods; 2) rice storage space is inadequate; 3) Laos transportatn does not allow movemt of grain to markets; and 4) milling quality is inadequate. Since current milling techniques often break grains, evaluator recommends utilizatn of larger, more efficient rice mills; and training of millers in proper milling procedures through an outreach program. Many farmers have been convinced in using new rice varieties that agr techniques can be improved with effort but the educatnal level of farmers, along with poor transportatn, and small farm size will require the developmt of simple procedures. Mission should provide a technician to assist Laos devel improved drying, storage, and milling. The research to improve agr techniques could be conducted at the Salakham Rice Exp Sta. Recommendatns include the following: 1) farmers should continue to use traditional sun drying techniques until artificial drying is available through well administered cooperative systems, 2) storage capacity should be increased and grain quality encouraged by having the Govt of Laos (GOL) establish rice grain standards based on Thailand's system, 3) research work on harvesting, drying, and milling of rice should be started; 4) farmers should establish grading procedures for rice mrtg; and 6) when adequate rice production is realized the GOL should investigate potentials for production of other crops.