ÎßÅíÍÀàÌÀŠÞ ÀèÍ ÀàÌÏßÖéÈãÌ ÑèÌÏèÀѺÌâÓìÜà åì Å.Î.Î Öà

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 ÎßÅíÍÀàÌÀŠÞ ÀèÍ ÀàÌÏßÖéÈãÌ ÑèÌÏèÀѺÌâÓìÜà åì Å.Î.Î Öà ÎßÖê à ÓàÉÞÈ 1 ãöß ÍîÌâÌìÜÃ È ÃÍîÍÏà 2 ÍíÈÂèÈØÇ ÏèÀãÓŠÌãÛŠÃË ÜîÈíÓÝ ÃÓêÁÜà ééàóéì, ËàÈÜàØàÌÅáÝÜà ãöß Å àãâå ÌåÇË âîèìîß äøçèé ÝŠàÃÀàÇ Æ±ÃÓêÂîÌŠàÅïÃËàÃÈ àìæê ß éëßçà. Æà ÌàÖà ÅŠ ÌÛàÇ ÓèÀÌáåÆ ãì ÑèÌ Ë âáíàâä àâèèâöìüàæ âüã âîèìãì ÑèÌË ÅàÓàÈÎèÍÉí âá ààèíåßñàíã ÈÖ ÜÓ Ë ãéàéšàã ÀèÌ åì Å.Î.Î Öà æè Èê. ÅàÇÑèÌâÛ³àÌ Óê àóåáâèìåáöèíààìå àãñèìåúš Ë É àìëàìé ÀàÌ ËáÖàÇ ÄàÀŪÃË ÓêÆê éè ãöß Í ÓêÆê éè. Ç ÜÌâØÈÏíÌÈ ÃÀŠà ãì ÑèÌѺÌâÓìÜà ÄëñÃÓêÂîÌŠàÛàÇ Í ÑÞÃãÉŠåÌÎèÈÄîÍèÌ ãöß ÇèÃÉ Öî ÌÉ æîåìüßìàâíèüêàè Ç. ÖßØ Šàà Îê 2002-2006 ËêÓ é ÆàÀàÌ ÁÜà ÅïÌ Ì àñìèïèà ãöß æó åøòúàà (ÅÑÓ), ÅßÊàÍèÌ Â Ì à éëßçàåàè âéèàìéà ÀßÅéÀá ãöß ÎŠàæÓ (ÅÂÀÎ) ÝŠ ÓÀèÍÜíÃÀàÌâÔÇÖßÓèÌ âñ²üààìñèèëßìà (DED) æè ÖíÃâÀèÍÀáãÌ ÑèÌÏèÀѺÌâÓìÜà ËèÃÚíÈ 9  à åì 76 âóìüã ÄàÀ 18 ãá à åìë³ ÎßâËÈ. ÏíÌÄàÀÀàÌÅáÛ È ÅàÓàÈâÀèÍãÌ ÑèÌÏèÀæÈ ËèÃÚíÈ 2,069 ÆßÌéÈ ãöß æè Ë ÜÌäÝÓæ åì ËßÌßÂàÌâƺÜÑèÌ ÁÜÃÅïÌ Ì àñìèïèà ãöß æó åø ÚàÀ. ÅŠ Ì̱ÃÁÜÃâƺÜÑèÌ Ë ÔïŠåÌËßÌà ÂàÌâƺÜÑèÌãÓŠÌÌáÓàÂèÈâÖìÜÀÑèÌÉàÓ àóîßåíã. ÀéÈÄßÀáË ÎßÉéÍèÈ ãóšìãìååšæßìéèïèà Ë ÅáÂèÌ âæèñì: ÚàÀâÏèÈ, ÚàÀâÖ Ì, ÅßÛèÈ, ʳ ÐèÀÇà ãöß ÚàÀãÉà âîèìé Ì. ÛèÃÄàÀÌ Ì Óà 5 Îê ãì ÑèÌåÚŠ æè ÊìÀÂèÈâÖìÜÀ ãöß ÌáåÆ ÁßØÇàÇÑèÌ âñ²üýèíåæ ÀàÌÏßÖéÈåØ ãàš Æà ÀßÅéÀÜÌ Öà. âö ÓÉ ÌãÓŠÌãÌ ÑèÌÚàÀâÖ ÌÐíÌ, ÚàÀâÖ ÌãÖ Ã ãöß ÏèÀÅßÛèÈ. ÜéÌÈïÄêÌ ãóšìêìàäèèâîèìêªìàáâìêèëêåüã ÁÜààóý ÃÓêËàÃÈ àìæê ßÌàƒÑèÌÑìÈ. ãì ÑèÌÏèÀ ÛàÇÀ Šà 150 ÅàÇÑèÌ ÄàÀ˳ ÎßâËÈ ãóšìæèòäáãìà äèçüàååöèàåßìßåà ÖéÖßÑàÍ ãöß ÖèÀÅßÌßËàÃÀßâÅÈÉßÀá âñ²üâîèìá ÓïÌãÀŠÀàÌÎèÍÎîÃÑèÌ åìüßìàâíè. Ñ ÜÓÈÞ ÀèÌÌ Ì ÉàÙŠàÃÏï ÏßÖéÈâÓèÈÑèÌ ÁÜà Æà ÀßÅéÀÜÌ ÀñçæÈ Å àãáëòìåìáüíâáèìß ÂÜÌÛ Ã ÞÃÄèÌ ÆëñÃÓê 23 ÂÜÍÂí ÄàÀ 11 Í àì æèòâýèèåèìçà åìýïíãííåèìçàåüãå Ì. åìîê 2006/2007 Ñ ÀâÁíàÅàÓàÈÏßÖéÈâÓèÈÑèÌæÈ ÎßÓàÌ 880 ÀéäÖÀðàÓ. ËèÃÚíÈ18 ãì ÑèÌ âîèìãì ÑèÌÎßÅíÓâÎêÈ. ãì ÑèÌÅŠ ÌåØÇŠ ãóšìáàçåø ãàšäâãààìéšàムÑàÇåÌÎßâËÈ, Ý àìâüàßæíì ÔïñÌßÂÜÌÛ Ã ÞÃÄèÌ ãöß ÂÜÍÂí Æà ÀßÅéÀÜÌäÈÇÀíÃâÖêÇ. ÂÜÍÂí Ë ÏßÖéÈ âóèèñèì ÅàÓàÈÅ àãöàçýèíâñ Ó æè ÎßÓàÌ 2,000,000 ÀêÍ Ûì ÎßÓàÌ 200 äèöà ÄàÀÀàÌ 63 July - December 2008

ÏßÖéÈãÌ ÑèÌÏèÀѺÌâÓìÜÃÌëñññÃÖßÈïÀàÌ. ãì ÑèÌÏèÀѺÌâÓìÜÃÖà ÊìâÎèÌÆèÍÅíÓÍèÈË ÓêŠà Ʊà  ÌÄßæÈ âüíàåäååš ÎíÀÎèÀÝèÀÅà, ÅëÀÅàÂîÌÖèÀÅßÌßÅßâÑàß ãö Å àãâîèìêàìáçòóïì âñ²ü ÌáåÆ åø âàêèîßäøçè ãàšîßæàæíìöà åìëíñ ÎßâËÈ. 1 ÜíÃÀàÌâÔÇÖßÓèÌ âñ²üààìñèèëßìà (DED) Ë ÅïÌ Â Ì à ÑìÈÏèÀ ãöß æó åø ÚàÀ, Åß Êà ÍèÌ Â Ì à éëßçàåàè âéèàìéà ÀßÅéÀá ãöß ÎŠà æó. Éï ÎÌ. 7170 Þà ÄèÌ, Å.Î.Î Öà. e-mail: matthias.plewa@gmx.de 2 ÅïÌ Â Ì à ÑìÈÏèÀ ãöß æó åø ÚàÀ, Åß Êà ÍèÌ Â Ì à éëßçàåàè âéèàìéà ÀßÅéÀá ãöß ÎŠà æó. Éï ÎÌ.7170 Þà ÄèÌ, Å.Î.Î.Öà. e-mail: neuang2003@yahoo.com 64

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 Experiences around Local Vegetable Seeds in the Lao PDR P. Mathias 1 and B. Douangboupha 2 Abstract Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins, micronutrients and fiber making it a healthy food with a high biological value of. Many Lao farmers are using their own selections, adapted well to several environmental conditions in different areas of the Lao PDR. These landraces are an important resource for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. For these reasons local varieties are invaluable not only for the present but also future generations. Between 2002 and 2006 the research team from the Horticulture Research Center (HRC), belonging to the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), in cooperation with the German Development Service (DED) conducted nine collection trips to collect local vegetable varieties in 76 districts from all the 18 provinces of Lao PDR. As a result of these efforts a total of 2,069 accessions of vegetable were assembled and stored in the vegetable gene bank at HRC. A part of the gene bank material was subjected to screenings under natural field conditions to identify landraces possessing desirable characters. Activities were concentrated on locally important vegetables. After five years new varieties were identified and released for seed multiplication for distribution to Lao farmers; initially for rainy and dry season tomato and lettuce. Indochina was considered as a secondary area of origin and the crop possesses a very rich diversity. More than 150 accessions from the whole country are characterized by morphological and agronomical traits to provide information for a future breeding program. At the same time a vegetable seed production network involving farmers around Vientiane has been established. Presently, 23 farmer families in 11 villages are under contract system and they produced around 880 kg seeds of almost 18 open pollinated vegetable crops in 2006/07. Most of the seeds were sold to various projects throughout the country, to special shop owners in Vientiane or directly to the farmers. Every seed producing family was able 65 July - December 2008

to earn an additional average income of 2 Million LAK (around 200 USD) throughout seed production. Local varieties of vegetable in Lao PDR are a treasure, which should be protected, their characters have to be documented and used for the benefit of the farmers in the country. Key words: Agrobiodiversity, Gene bank, Plant genetic resources, Germplasm, Vegetable Seed Production 1 German Development Service (DED) at Horticulture Research Center, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, P.O. Box 811 Vientiane, Lao PDR; e-mail: matthias.plewa@gmx.de 2 Horticulture Research Center, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, P.O. Box 7170 Vientiane, Lao PDR; e-mail:neuang2003@yahoo.com 66

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 1. Introduction A 24 hours consumption survey in the Lao PDR showed, that a total of 96 different food items are consumed, and among them 48 are vegetables. On an average, each family member consumes 11 different food items; of which five are vegetables (Siphandouang et al. 2002). Vegetables are the major source of vitamins A and C and one of the most important sources of calcium, iron, and vitamin B2. By diversifying the diet with vegetables, the nutritional status of consumers is improved, leading to better health conditions. Vegetables provide one of the cheapest sources to balance micronutrients deficiencies (Siphandouang et al., 2002). In the Lao PDR, vegetables are grown mostly in permanent home gardens, on riverbank gardens during the dry season, on irrigated fields and in mixed cropping systems with upland rice. The Lao PDR is a primary centre of origin and diversity for cultivated rice and several other crops. Other than rice, very little efforts have been made to collect, conserve, characterize, and utilize for development of crops traditionally used by the Lao farmers. Sustainable management of agrobiodiversity is the only option to achieve food security and reduce poverty (Government of the Lao PDR., 2004). Between 2002 and 2007, the German Development Service (DED) supported the vegetable section at Horticulture Research Center (HRC), belonging to the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) with the project entitled Conservation & Utilization of Agrobiodiversity Vegetable Seed Production for Lao Farmers. Some experiences from activities concerning collecting and screening of local vegetable varieties and vegetable seed production are summarized. 2. Biodiversity of local vegetable varieties and variety tests 2.1. Material and Methods Between 2002 and 2006, the HRC research team conducted nine field trips for the collection of local varieties of vegetables by visiting 281 villages inhabited by various ethnic groups in 76 districts of all 16 provinces including the Vientiane municipality and Saisomboun Special Zone in the Lao PDR. At local markets, all information on vegetable growing villages was gathered and sometimes local seeds or fruits were bought, which were processed afterwards. With official permission of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/NAFRI and the 67 July - December 2008

assistance of provincial or district authorities, the village heads (naiban) were contacted who supported the seed collection in his area. Seeds from farmland, upland fields, home gardens, and home seed storages were obtained, kept them in airtight film boxes or plastic bags. As much as possible, data about village, district, province, farmers name, ethnic group, local name of the crop and variety were collected. These passport data were used for the documentation in forms used by the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) and provided a serial number for each sample and the name of province. The seed samples were processed and dried before storage in the refrigerator maintained at temperature of 5 C at HRC. All information is accessible from the database. fruit and seed stages, and three single plants were selected to study yield components. 2.2. Results At HRC, a vegetable gene bank with a total of 2,069 accessions of local vegetable varieties from Laos was established. The largest groups are the legumes consisting of several kinds of upland beans, yard long beans, lab lab beans, soybean and mungbean. The second largest crop collections were chili and pakchoi/mustard, followed by loofah, eggplant, cucumber, maize, pumpkin, and coriander (Fig. 1). Screenings of several accessions maintained in gene bank material was conducted at HRC and in farmers fields. Questionnaires filled in by farmers, traders and HRC staff provides information for selection of varieties. For the description of biodiversity of eggplant, a detailed research program for 150 accessions from all provinces of the country was undertaken at HRC, using the AVRDC descriptors. For every accession, ten plants were transplanted in the field to study the vegetative, flowering, 68

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 Figure 1: Accessions of local vegetables at the HHRC genebank Number of Accessions at Genebank HHRC 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 312 230 225 194 172 172 157 133 125 94 85 62 21 87 0 Legumes Chili Mustard, Pakchoi Loofah Eggplant Cucumber Corn Pumpkin Coriander Dill Tomato Lettuce Amaranth other In several agro-ecological zones the farmers grow various kinds of vegetables. Fig. 2 gives an overview about the five mostly collected crops per zone. 69 July - December 2008

Figure 2: Vegetables grown in various agroecological zones of the Lao PDR, accessions collected for the gene bank between 2002 2006. Adapted Map from World Bank 2006 70

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 Among the vegetable crops, chili is grown in all zones, most also had legumes, pakchoi/mustard and eggplant. In the North, in the uplands, cucumber is very common while other crops like tomato and lettuce are predominant in the Vientiane plain. The crops partly characterized and evaluated at HRC are chili, tomato, lettuce, and yard long bean. After conducting several trials two extremely promising tomato varieties were identified are HRC 5, HRC 6 for the rainy season and two for the dry season are HRC MT and HRC DK. Further an accession of lettuce for dry season could meet the critical demand of the Lao market and was selected. They are already released to the Lao farmers and were included in the seed production and multiplication program for distribution to the farmers. The 150 accessions of eggplant so far characterised were separated into eight groups namely very long, long, round, green, round, violet/white, egg shaped, very small, round, broader than long, and big, oval. The analysis was especially focused on yield in combination with quality parameters, like yield per plant of marketable fruits, number of fruits per plant, percentage of marketable fruits, and percentage of fruit infestation by fruit and shoot borer. A genotype from Luang Prabang province was found to be high-yielding with more than 3 kg marketable fruits per plant. Five genotypes from Attapeu, Vientiane Capital, Huaphan and Xienkhuang were also highyielding between 2.6 and 2.1 kg marketable fruits per plant. Less than 5 % fruit and shoot borer infestations were analyzed for the genotypes from Luang Prabang, Xienkhuang and Champassak belonging to type very long, and Vientiane Capital from the very small, round group. Pre-test screenings for sources of resistances to bacterial wilt were carried out with seedlings at the greenhouse. Respectively six accessions exhibited a high level of resistance, and five genotypes appeared to be moderately susceptible. The first information concerning bacterial wilt resistances has to be subsequently evaluated in additional greenhouse trials. The detailed results of the research will be prepared for publishing in a later article. 3. Vegetable seed production and marketing 3.1. Material and Methods Project on seed production activities started in the dry season 2002 with a farmer network around Vientiane Capital. Every year in September, an annual meeting of the 71 July - December 2008

farmer network was organized at HRC to monitor the results of the previous season, to discuss and plan the coming season and to sign the contracts for seed multiplication. The contracts include agreements on the crops, the quantity and quality of the seeds as well as the price to be paid per kilogram. During the crop season monthly follow up visits take place in the fields, to provide advice and to estimate the yield and the expected quality and quantity of seed likely to be produced. Some farmers multiply HRC varieties while some use their own selections. After harvesting and pre-processing a sample is taken to test the germination at the HRC lab. The centre only accepts seeds with a germination capacity above 80% and stored in the cool storage. To finance all seed activities, a special seed fund was established with the income generated from the marketed seeds. An initial amount of money was supplied by DED, which was gradually reduced and replaced by the money earned through the sale of seed. The seeds are stored in plastic containers at a temperature between 15 18 C at the HRC seed store. Packaging is done on demand from special shops, markets, national and international projects. The seed packets are labeled with the HRC logo and important information about the seeds, like germination percentage, date of testing and packaging, place of multiplication and instructions for cultivation. For nine crops, leaflets containing more detailed information were developed. 3.2. Results In the pilot year 2002/03, seven farmer families produced around 100 kg of vegetable seeds (Fig. 3). In 2006, all of them are still continuing seed production together with 23 additional farmer families in 11 villages and four districts in Vientiane Capital. During 2006/07, a very good result of around 880 kg vegetable seeds with a germination rate of around 80% was achieved. Every seed producing family was able to earn an additional average income of 2 Million LAK (around 200 USD). The predominant crops were Chinese mustard, pakchoi, yard long bean, cucumber, eggplant, tomato, and lettuce. In the second and third year, new crops for which no selections from HRC are available were introduced successfully to the market; they are cucumber (dry season and rainy season varieties), dill, French bean, amaranth, chili, tomato (dry season and rainy season varieties). 72

The Lao Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, No. 18 Figure 3: Development of seed production together with the farmer network in Vientiane Seed production 1000 881.4 800 666.0 [kg] 600 400 200 97.6 213.6 439.2 0 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 Most of the seeds are sold during the year of production. Forty four percent were packed for national and international projects in the whole country, 23% were sold to special seed shops and markets in Vientiane, 13% were bought by farmers directly at HRC and 11% were used by HRC staff. The rest was provided for training courses. Each year, there are two peaks for selling seeds, in May for the rainy season and between August and October for planting in the dry season. The newly introduced home garden plastic seed bags, using locally available material, were very successful for packing small amounts and for short time storing. For bigger amounts of seeds or longer period of storage, airtight aluminum foils have proved the most adequate. 73 July - December 2008

4. Impact of the intervention Vegetables play more and more important role in the discussion of plant genetic resources in the Lao PDR. The Lao Country Report of the FAO on Plant Genetic Resources considered in 2007: the vegetable seed program has created a new dimension of utilization of genetic resources with an understanding of agronomic, social and economic aspects of biodiversity. This program is a successful example of utilization of biodiversity for annual and perennial crops in Laos. By working with several teams of HRC, the colleagues improve their practical knowledge, how to collect, protect and use local varieties. The project could improve the market supply of local vegetable seeds, in order to provide more crops (e.g. amaranth, dill, French bean), and more information about the seeds. Improved varieties were screened and some are already released to farmers. After introduction of HRC seeds into the market, the customers appreciate the quality of the seeds with reasonable prices, and recognized HRC seeds by the developed logo. The farmers got the option to select Lao seeds instead of imported ones. Several projects in the Lao PDR include seeds and crop information leaflets into their countrywide extension service. Following the inclusion of seed production into their farming activities, farmers are able to generate an additional income. Buying Lao vegetable seeds at the market and growing at their fields, farmer can earn money at the fresh vegetable market and contribute to improve the nutritional diversity in Lao kitchens. 5. Outlook for the future The germplasm of local vegetable varieties at the gene bank should be maintained and used for the future. A duplication of the accessions should be prepared for a long term conservation storing at -15 C at an international institution or gene bank. Screening and conducting vegetable variety trials should be continued and extended to the Northern provinces with a view to identify varieties suitable for upland conditions and the different preferences of the diverse ethnic groups. The gene bank offers an unique opportunity to exchange upland varieties collected among different mountainous areas in the Lao PDR. It is possible to successfully introduce crops from other regions and include them in the seed production program. The contract seed program should be continued under support of Lao experts, strengthening the farmer group and 74

developing more and more independently acting associations. The Farmer group around Vientiane should collect experiences as a successful pilot association. The Lao market needs more vegetable seeds. Many efforts should be done in order to support several farmer associations for seed production in other regions. There is a big potential. Acknowledgements I would like to thank first Mr. Khamsavath Keovichit for his assistance during the last four years as the HRC counterpart for the DED project. Further thanks to all colleagues at HRC, who supported the seed production activities. References Government of Lao 2004. National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme in LAO PDR. Vientiane. Siphandouang, P. et al. 2002. Lao PDR. In Ali, M. (ed.). The Vegetable Sector in Indochina Countries: Farm and household perspectives on poverty alleviation. AVRDC- ARC, Bangkok, Thailand. Technical Bulletin No.27,188 p. World Bank 2006. Lao PDR: Rural and Agriculture Sector Issues Paper, 44 p. 75