Seed Project Brief.pub - Agrifoodconsulting.com

comes and impact of future Seed Componentactivities.Numbers of Farmers Involved inSeed Production SystemsThe results of the PRRA exercise indicate thatapproximately 23 percent of farmers wereinvolved in traditional rice production, 95percent were growing improved rice, and 32percent were growing hybrid rice (see Table1). This varied between provinces, with farmersin Nam Dinh more likely to be growingtraditional rice varieties compared with farmersin other provinces. A higher percentage offarmers in Nghe An were growing hybrid ricecompared with farmers in Nam Dinh; due tothe higher proportion of Nam Dinh farmersgrowing traditional rice.Varieties of Rice GrownIn terms of varieties of rice, communes inNam Dinh grew on average 9-10 differentvarieties, compared with 7-8 varieties in eachcommune in Nghe An, 11 varieties in BinhDinh, and 6 varieties in Dong Thap (see Table2). The limited number of varieties grown ineach commune in Dong Thap is a function ofthe specialization of production towards theexport market. Farmers noted that the provincialand district extension services and seedcompanies played a critical role in the numberand diversity of varieties on offer. Despite aTable 2 Varieties of Rice Grown in Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Binh Dinh and Dong Thap ProvincesNumber of Communes SurveyedPercent of CommunesNam Dinh Nghe An Binh Dinh Dong Thap Total Total North Southi 32 2 3 5 31% 25% 38%i Hoµ Thµnh 1 1 6% 13%AYT 77 4 1 5 31% 50% 13%B¾c Th¬m 7 3 1 4 25% 50%B¾c −u 64 1 1 6% 13%B¾c −−u 903 1 1 6% 13%Bao Thai 1 1 6% 13%CS 1 1 1 6% 13%§V 108 3 3 19% 38%H−¬ng Th¬m Sè 1 4 1 5 31% 63%IR 64 3 3 19% 38%Iri 352 1 4 5 31% 63%IR 17494 1 1 2 13% 13% 13%IR 50404 2 2 13% 25%Khang D©n 18 3 4 4 11 69% 88% 50%Kim C−−¬ng 89/90 1 1 6% 13%L−−ìng Qung 164 1 1 6% 13%ML 5 1 1 6% 13%ML 15 1 1 6% 13%ML 48 4 4 25% 50%ML 49 4 4 25% 50%Nam §Þnh 1 3 3 19% 38%NÕp C¸i Hoa Vµng 3 3 19% 38%NÕp Ngù 1 1 6% 13%NÕp R©u 1 1 6% 13%NhÞ −−u 63 1 2 3 19% 38%NhÞ −−u 838 1 4 5 31% 63%OM 576 4 4 25% 50%OM 1490 3 4 7 44% 88%OMCS 95 2 1 3 19% 38%OMCS 96 4 4 25% 50%OMCS 2000 1 4 5 31% 63%Q5 1 1 2 13% 25%S¸n −−u 63 3 3 19% 38%ST 3 1 1 6% 13%T¸m Th¬m §ét BiÕn 1 1 6% 13%TH 85 2 2 13% 25%V§ 20 1 1 2 13% 13% 13%ViÖt H−−¬ng ChiÕm 4 4 25% 50%VND 95-20 2 2 13% 25%L−−ìng Qung 162 1 1 6% 13%Khang B»ng 3 3 19% 38%Nam §Þnh 2 1 1 6% 13%Jasmine (CA 92) 3 3 19% 38%NÕp 1 1 6% 13%NÕp Cai Trang 1 1 6% 13%NÕp Da Phy 1 1 6% 13%NÕp Ha Noi 1 1 6% 13%NÕp Thom 1 1 6% 13%TN§B 1 1 6% 13%Tap Giao 2 1 3 19% 38%NÕp Thai 1 1 6% 13%Average Number ofVarieties Per Commune9.5 7.5 11 6 92

Table 3 Incidence of Pests and Diseases of Rice in Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Binh Dinh and Dong Thap ProvincesName of Pest or DiseaseTotal IncidenceScientific NameCommon NamePercent of CommunesVietnamese EnglishNumber ofCommunesTotal North SouthBaliothrips biformisLeptocorisa acutaPiricularia oryzae (Pyriculariagrisea)Cercospora oryzaeXanthomonas oryzaeUstilaginoides virensRhizoctonia solaniPseudomonas glumae(Burkholderia glumae)Rice ragged stunt oryzavirus(RRSV)Stunted RootsErwina chrysanthemiHelminthosporium sigmoideum(Magnaporthe salvinii, Helminthosporiumsigmoideum Cavaravar. irregulare )Helminthosporium oryzae(Cochliobolus miyabeanus)Yellow LeafFusarium moniliformeOxya veloxRattus spp.CrabsPomacea canaliculata LamarckNilaparvata lugensBä trÜBä xÝt dµiBÖnh ®¹o «n, do nÊmBÖnh ®èm n©u, do nÊmBÖnh b¹c l¸, do vi khÈnBÖnh hoa cóc, do nÊmBÖnh kh« v»n, do nÊmBÖnh lÐp ®en h¹t lóa, do vikhuÈnBÖnh lóa lïn xo¨n l¸, do vi rótBÖnh NghÑt rÔBÖnh thèi rÔ, do vi khuÈnBÖnh thèi th©n, do nÊmBÖnh tiªm löa, do nÊmBÖnh vµng l¸ lóa (nguyªnnh©n ch−a x¸c ®Þnh)BÖnh von, do nÊmCh©u chÊu lóaChuétCuaèc b−¬u vµngRÇy n©uRice Thrips 11 69% 50% 88%Paddy Bug 12 75% 100% 50%Rice Blast/Rotten Neck 15 94% 88% 100%Narrow Brown Spot 5 31% 25% 38%Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight 10 63% 63% 63%False or Green smut 1 6% 0% 13%Sheath Blight 12 75% 75% 75%Grain Rot 7 44% 0% 88%Ragged Stunt Virus. Transmittedby Nilaparvata lugens;DelphacidaeRoots not developed in heavy,compacted soil1 6% 0% 13%6 38% 38% 38%Foot Rot 1 6% 13% 0%Stem Rot 1 6% 13% 0%Rice Brown Spot, Pecky Rice(Kernel Spotting), SeedlingBlight1 6% 13% 0%Yellow leaf, not yet identified 6 38% 13% 63%Fusarium Kernel (or Ear) RotFusarium Stalk Rot2 13% 0% 25%Rice Grasshopper 2 13% 25% 0%Rats 16100%100% 100%Crab 1 6% 13% 0%Golden Apple Snail 4 25% 0% 50%Brown Planthopper 15 94% 100% 88%Hydrellia sp.Similar to Scirpophaga spp., Chilospp., Sesamia spp.Scirpophaga spp., Chilo spp.,Sesamia spp.Mythimna separataCnaphalocrocis medinalisSimilar to Nymphula depunctalisSpodoptera mauritiaOrseolia oryzaeNymphula depunctalisSimilar to Piricularia oryzae(Pyricularia grisea)Ruåi ®ôc nânRice Whorl Maggot 1 6% 13% 0%S©u ®ôc bÑ Stem borer type of attack -main stem and branch1 6% 0% 13%S©u ®ôc th©nRice Stem Borer 15 94% 100% 88%S©u c¾n giÐS©u cuèn l¸ nháS©u dßiS©u keoS©u n¨nS©u phaoVµng l¸ chÝn símOriental Armyworm, Rice Ear-Cutting Caterpillar5 31% 25% 38%Rice Leaf Folder 14 88% 88% 88%new insect, like caseworm 1 6% 0% 13%Armyworm 6 38% 13% 63%Asian Rice Gall Midge 1 6% 0% 13%Caseworm 4 25% 0% 50%similar to dao on (Blast) 1 6% 0% 13%3

4Figure 2: PRRA Focus Group Discussionrelatively large number of varieties offered bythe formal seed sector, farmers noted thatoccasionally the varieties offered were differentfrom the varieties that they demanded.Seed Production SystemsSeed production systems were relatively similaracross all four provinces surveyed, despitelarge differences in agro-ecological conditions.The system of seed production depended onwhether farmers were involved in formal seedproduction under the organization of the cooperative,or as farm-saved seed. Under thecooperative seed production system, a separatearea of land is generally established forseed production, which is isolated from themain crop growing area.For separate seed production areas the seedis selected from the entire crop, whereas forfarm saved seed it is selected from the bestpart of the field and from the plants with thebest characteristics. Good characteristics includeshort stature and the flag leaf beingtaller than the panicle. In all cases, seed isselected from individual panicles free fromdisease. Panicles and seed must be healthylooking, full of grain and homogenous. Seed isselected from the top 2/3rds of the panicle.Farmers mainly thresh panicles by hand, or ifthey use a machine, they then try to ensurethat the machine is cleaned before use, or atleast the first part of the threshed seed isdiscarded.Seed is dried from 3-5 times, depending onthe season and weather conditions. The seedis dried to a moisture content that is slightlyhigher than that for food grain. After the seedis dried it needs to be left for a few hours tocool down, for anywhere between 6-24 hours.The seed is cleaned using a flat basket to tossthe seed and remove the empty husks. Iffarmers have an electric fan, they can use thisto remove the empty husks, immature grainsFigure 3: Seed Drying Yard in Nam Dinhand foreign matter. All farmers in the focusgroups were aware of cleaning procedures,but the extent of cleaning depends on thefarmer and the amount of seed to be stored.Some farmers are less diligent than otherswhen it comes to cleaning, and farmers insouthern provinces, where broadcasting iscarried out, find it extremely difficult to cleanthe large quantities of seed needed to broadcast200-300kg/ha.Seed is stored in a nylon bag (usually an oldfertilizer bag) in most communes. Some farmersin Binh Dinh use 44-gallon (180 liter)drums, while other farmers in other communesuse jars or wooden boxes.Before sowing, the seed farmers remove theseed from its storage container and clean theseed of all foreign matter accumulated duringthe storage period. The seed is re-dried in thesun in order to reduce the humidity of theseed and increase the germination rate.Again, the extent of cleaning depends on thediligence of the farmer and the amount ofseed used.Figure 4: Sample of GrainGermination of seed is carried out by soakingthe seed and then incubating until germination.The time of soaking depends on theweather conditions and the variety of seed.Hybrid seed has a thicker husk and needs tobe soaked longer. In general, farmers soakseeds from 20-48 hours, with the waterchanged every 24 hours. The length of incubationalso varies between 24-48 hours. Theseed is sown when it is germinated, with asprout length of between 1/3-2/3 the lengthof the grain.Seed Supply and SalesPurchases of seed by farmers fall into threecategories; purchases directly from seed companiesand breeding institutes, purchasesfrom the cooperative seed production system(including extension clubs and large-scaleprivate seed producing farmers), and farmsaved seed sources.Most communes obtain commercial seed (Pre-Basic or Basic Seed) from the seed companiesor provincial/district extension centers anduse the seed production teams or extensionclubs to multiply and produce “Certified Seed”for sale to food grain producing farmers. Mostfarmers obtain commercial seed (Basic orCertified Seed) from the cooperative, recyclethe seed for between 1 and 2 crops and thenreplenish their seed from the cooperative.Some farmers, particularly poorer farmers andthose wanting varieties not produced by officialsources, obtain seed from their neighborson an exchange basis. These types of seedare usually selected from rice plots that appearto give high yield and are healthy looking.From focus group discussions with farmers,it does not appear that there are anypurchases of seed from private traders; atleast on a wide-spread scale.Very few farmers interviewed were engagedin selling seed. Most of those farmers who areselling seed belong to cooperative seed producingteams, and are either contracted aslaborers or contracted to produce seed.Farmer-to-farmer sales usually through seedexchange with neighbors (1kg seed for 1-1.4kg food grain). As most farmers producerice, seed exchange is carried out only occasionally.Diseases and Pests of RiceApproximately 30 different pests and diseaseswere identified by farmers in focus groups(see Table 3). The most prevalent of thesewere rats (Rattus spp.), rice blast (Piriculariaoryzae), brown plant hopper (Nilaparvatalugens), rice stem borer (Scirpophaga spp.,Chilo spp. Sesamia spp.), and rice leaf folder(Cnaphalocrocis medinalis). The incidence ofpests and diseases differed between the north(Nam Dinh and Nghe An) and the south (BinhDinh and Dong Thap). The incidence of pestsand diseases followed closely the seasonalpatterns of crop cultivation and weather patterns.In the northern provinces of Nam Dinh andNghe An, paddy bug (Leptocorisa acuta), ricegrasshopper (Oxya velox), brown plant hopper(Nilaparvata lugens), and rice stem borer(Scirpophaga spp., Chilo spp. Sesamia spp.),were present in all 8 communes surveyed. Inthe southern provinces of Binh Dinh and DongThap, rice blast (Piricularia oryzae) and rats(Rattus spp.) were present in all 8 communessurveyed. Rice thrips (Baliothrips biformis),grain rot (Pseudomonas glumae), brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), rice stem borer(Scirpophaga spp., Chilo spp. Sesamia spp.),and rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis)were present in 7 out of the 8 communes.This Project Brief is based on research undertakenin 2002 for DANIDA’s Agriculture Sector Programmeof Support - Seed Component (ASPS-SC).The original study was a baseline study of rice,maize and legume seed production system in 16communes in the provinces of Nam Dinh, Nghe An,Binh Dinh and Dong Thap in Viet Nam.The seed production systems examined cover awide variety of agro-ecological zones, seed productionsystems and farming systems. The rationalebehind choosing a wide variety of farming systemsto examine is to extract the maximum possibleinformation from the experiences of each system.The objective of the study is to provide a baselinecharacterization of seed production systems inorder to better plan and implement the ASPS –Seed Component in these four provinces.© Agrifood ConsultingInternational, 2002www.agrifoodconsulting.com