Japanese parliament delegation visits rice seed research Centre

(KPL) A delegation of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery of Japan to the National Diet of Japan visited the Nong Hea Rice Seeds Research Centre under the financial support of Japanese International Cooperation Agency on 30 August on occasion of working visit Laos.

The centre was supported through the JICA’s Rice Seed Multiplication and Distribution System Improvement Project (RISEP).

The delegation was warmly welcomed by Head of Vientiane Agriculture-Forestry Service, Mr. Rathsanivong Amalathithada, Deputy-Head of Agricultural Promotion Unit and head of Nong Hea Rice Seed Centre and Japanese experts of RISEP.

The Nong Hea Rice Seed Centre was established in 1982 under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which is responsible for transferring knowledge and technical term to civil servants and local farmers. In 1987, the centre also researched for rice seeds expansion.

Between 1989 and 1994, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry transferred the centre to the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Service to use and administrate and cooperated with a Thai company to grow fruit tree and vegetables.

Between 1995 and 2007, the centre produced rice seeds and contributed to farmers nationwide. And in 2009, the centre further cooperated with the RISEP to distribute rice seeds to farmers. The centre is able to produce 50 tonnes of rice seed per year ranging from That Dokkham 8, That Dokkham 11 to ordinary rice.

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