Contribute to Better Rice Production and Nutrition in South East Asia

Better Rice Initiative Asia-

Monthly Update

Photo credit © GIZ BRIA Indonesia

Volume: 31 - September 2017

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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

Editor’s Note

Promoting Better Rice, Better Life

The Rice Department (RD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), and BRIA in cooperation with
government agencies, international organisations, and private partners, are preparing a full project proposal for
the Thai Rice NAMA project to request financial support from the NAMA Facility. The project seeks to contribute
to Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by transforming the whole rice sector to low-emission
production. This issue of the BRIA newsletter presents measures to address environmental impacts being
evaluated by the Thai Rice NAMA project. The project is in the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP) covering a period
of 6 months starting from 19 May 2017. The deadline for submission of the full proposal is 19 November 2017.

In most of West Africa, rice production has not been able to match the increases in demand triggered by rapid
population growth and urbanisation, rising incomes and urban consumers’ preferences. Despite significant rice
production increases, West Africa still procures half of its rice needs through imports, which account for about
20-30% of the world’s rice exports. Asia (particularly Thailand, Viet Nam, Pakistan and India) is the major source
of these imports. On commission of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GIZ
implements several programmes to promote the development of competitive rice industries. Among these, the
Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) helps smallholder rice farmers in four African countries to improve
their incomes and to supply both their families and the whole region with high-quality rice. To facilitate the
transfer of know-how and good practices from Asia to Africa, a study trip was organised for representatives of
the rice industry of Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Tanzania to Thailand. The study trip was planned in close
collaboration with BRIA and took place in August 2017. The BRIA newsletter has summarised this visit for
our readers.

In Viet Nam, the overall project objective is to improve livelihood options for rice farmers in the three provinces
of Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Kien Giang through an ecologically sustainable increase in rice production and
an improved linkage to quality markets. One goal is to develop concepts for the successful implementation of
public-private-partnership projects for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
In this regard, BRIA has compiled a concept note for the establishment of a public-private-partnership task force
(PPP TF) for the rice commodity for MARD. The aim of the proposed task force is to complement government efforts
to raise rice production efficiency, ensure stable income for rice farmers and promote sustainable development.

Last but not least, the BRIA newsletter shares some key findings per the farmer baseline survey conducted by
BRIA Indonesia, titled ‘Technology Introduction for Sustainable Agricultural System through BRIA Farmer Field
School (FFS), Seed Grower Training and Better Market Linkages.’ The objective of the survey was to gain a deeper
understanding of BRIA farmer practices in the two provinces of North Sumatra and East Java and to monitor and
evaluate the impacts of the BRIA project under a PPP model system that aims to promote sustainable rice farming
in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country.

Suriyan Vichitlekarn, BRIA Regional Director

Kamol Taukitphaisarn, BRIA Communication
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

Thai Rice NAMA

to turn a crisis into
an opportunity
for environmental
safeguards

Thailand is ranked as the world’s fifth largest rice producer. So, rice production significantly contributes to the
Thai economy. However, current rice cultivation may contribute to environmental problems. Key environmental
impacts associated with rice farming may include the following:

• GHG emissions from flooded rice fields causing global warming

• Water pollution in the nearby water bodies attributable to overuse of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
• Water scarcity for downstream users owing to high upstream water consumption for rice cultivation, and
• Soil degradation and air pollution when burning leftover rice straw and stubble.

These environmental impacts can be mitigated by improving the current farming practices (i.e. efficient use of
water, fertilisers, pesticides and straw) towards sustainable agricultural production. These environmental
concerns have been overlooked and not yet properly addressed for decades due to a lack of technical knowledge
and financial support. In this regard, the Thai Rice NAMA project, a project proposal being developed jointly by
BRIA and the Rice Department for funding by the NAMA Facility, will seek to transform the existing rice farming
into a climate-friendly rice production system.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
Many measures to address these environmental
impacts are being evaluated. To date, the following
four most feasible mitigation technologies have been
discussed for implementation by the Thai Rice NAMA
project:
• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is a water-saving
technology that farmers can apply to reduce their
irrigation water consumption in rice fields without
decreasing its yield, according to the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In AWD, irrigation water
is applied a few days after the disappearance of the
ponded water. Hence, the field gets alternately flooded
and non-flooded. The number of days of non-flooded
soil between irrigations can vary from 1 to more than
10 days depending on the number of factors such as
soil type, weather, and crop growth stage. AWD
application not only reduces water use in the rice
paddy fields by 30% but can significantly lower the
methane emissions by about 48% compared to
conventional practice according to the 2006 IPCC
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
methodology. Moreover, AWD can reduce pesticide
use as it increases the resistance to certain pests.
As a result, farmers can eventually save their produc-
tion costs.
• Land leveling to equally distribute water in the rice
field and further reduce the uses of water, fertilisers
and pesticides,
• Efficient use of fertilisers to minimise impacts on
water quality and further reduce nitrous oxide
emissions, and
• Enhancing rice straw utilisation to create value
for the straw and avoid carbon emissions from the
current practice of open burning.
These selected technologies will be promoted to
some 100,000 farmers in the six provinces of Chainat,
Angthong, Patumthani, Singburi, Suphanburi and
Ayutthaya in the central plain of Thailand. By the end
of the Thai Rice NAMA project in 2022, the project
could potentially contribute to a reduction of GHG
emissions of about 1.6 million tons of CO2eq. More-
over, the current situation of water pollution in the
nearby watersheds, water scarcity for the downstream
users, soil degradation, and human health effects
from air pollution could be positively improved as
co-benefits through the implementation of these
selected technologies.
Contributed by Kanokwan Saswattecha

Second CARI-BRIA Exchange
Visit on Rice Value Chain in Thailand
Rice is one of the leading food crops in the world,
representing not only a vital part of the individual’s
nutrition in everyday life, but also a great revenue
potential for Asian as well as African economies as
a whole. Although great efforts have been made to
strengthen African rice production in order to meet
domestic demand and increase farmers’ revenues,
there is room for improvement in terms of strategic
investments in research and development, production
and trade infrastructure.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
The programme “Competitive African Rice Initiative”
(CARI) realised that the Asian know-how in
producing, trading and setting policies can be
valuable benchmarks for fighting deficiencies in the
African rice industry. Known as the world’s top rice
exporter, Thailand serves as role model. Therefore,
a cross-continental learning exchange was established
in 2016, a collaboration between CARI and BRIA. This
year’s second exchange visit between BRIA and CARI
partners from Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and
Tanzania took place from 21– 25 August 2017 across
different provinces in Thailand.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

The main objective of the exchange was to provide At Raitong Organics Farm Co. Ltd., an organic rice farm
participants with insights and thus a better in Sisaket province, discussions centred on topics of
understanding of the Thai rice value chain and its organic farming processes (from land preparation
stakeholders. Consequently, participants from four up to marketing level), innovative technologies and
West and East African CARI countries were given trials such as biological weeds management, and
guided tours and extensive discussion time at several processes of packaging materials and quality control.
locations, from which four can especially be Even though there might not yet be a large market for
highlighted: organic rice in African countries, the holistic concept
of the farm, run as a social business, was surely inspiring
The first stop of the exchange led to Klang Community and might hold large potentials for the future.
Rice Centre in Ubon Ratchathani province, which
works together with Olam in order to improve their
rice production based on the Sustainable Rice
Platform (SRP) standard. The visit to this community-
based farmers’ association gave the opportunity to
discuss challenges and recommendations concerning
rice farming practices, post-harvest techniques and
packaging as well as the management and organisation
of the farmers’ group, highly relevant topics for the
visitors from Africa.

The visit to Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Centre
gave insight into the key rice varieties and consumer
preferences in Thailand. The participants learnt
about challenges related to rice production, plant
protection and therewith the importance of the
rice research. The research centre has more than
1,000 genes in its gene bank, allowing continuous
improvement of seeds and their resistance to pests
and diseases, which is crucial for the support of
farmers as well as Thailand’s rice brand. Current
research areas include rice genetic and variety
selection, seed technology, biotechnology, soil fertility
and natural resource management, important topics
that help address upcoming challenges.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
Thai Jasmine rice is very well known across the world.
At the Office of Commodity Standards, Ministry of
Commerce, the group learnt about the Jasmine rice
quality standards, classification schemes, quality
assurance and certification in accordance with
Thai law. Even though the majority of participants
work in the private sector, they acknowledged the
importance and benefit of government involvement
and regulations in respect to commodity standards.
They not only hold restrictions and additional
responsibilities for companies, but also support the
creation of brands as well as hold additional
employment opportunities, an aspect with high
importance for the African continent.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

The experience of this field visit has been extremely rewarding and appreciated by all participants. By learning
more about rice cultivation in Thailand and exchanging with different organisations along the Thai rice value
chain, ideas and expressions were gained, which left the participants optimistic in being able to improve rice
production processes in their home countries. BRIA and CARI are looking forward to continuing the cooperation
and support of mutual learning and knowledge exchange in the future.

The CARI-BRIA Exchange Visit took the participants to the following eight locations:

Places Objectives

Klang Community Rice Centre • Organisation and management of farmer group

• Exchanging information on challenges and
recommended practices

Office of Commodity Standards,
Ministry of Commerce
Olam (Thailand) Ltd.
Raitong Organics Farm Co. Ltd.
Rice Department, Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ruangchai Tractor Co. Ltd.
Ubon Ratchathani Rice
Research Centre
Ying Paiboon Rice Mill Co. Ltd.
• Jasmine rice standards, quality assurance and certification
• Function of the organisation and policies
• Other Thai rice standards in development
• Trends of Thai Rice and African Rice
• Observing processing, storage, packaging and marketing
• Planning and farm management
• Moving up the value chain
• Marketing and challenges
• Policies related to rice production, including sustainable
rice production
• Rice zoning strategies and support
• History of policy support and implementation
• Growing market of agricultural machinery in Thailand
• Financial package
• Key rice varieties in Thailand, consumer preferences of these
varieties, suitable areas for cultivation, seasons
• Function of rice research, achievements and current activities
• Visiting the laboratory
• Buying mechanisms and rice grading
• Milling and storage for good quality rice

Article and photos contributed by Kristina Johanna Kaske,

Communications Manager for CARI (www.cari-project.org)

Establishment of PPP Task Force
to Improve the Vietnamese Rice Sector
To contribute to government policies for improving
the rice sector in Viet Nam, BRIA has developed and
submitted a concept for the establishment of a public-
private-partnership task force (PPP TF) for the rice
commodity to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MARD). This is to support Decision
No 1898/QD-BNN-TT dated 23 May 2015, which was
issued by MARD, to approve a plan for restructuring
the Vietnamese rice sector until 2020 and vision to
2030 with the goal of “improving the efficiency of
rice production and business as a basis to ensure
national food security, create jobs and increase income
for rice farmers, protect ecological environment,
promote sustainable development and global market
participation.” The roles and responsibilities of the
task force should thus complement government
efforts to raise rice production efficiency, ensure
stable income for rice farmers and sustainable
development.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
The PPP TF for the rice sector has been established
with the following main roles and objectives:
• Raise challenges and obstacles in the rice value chain
to policy makers for solutions
• Advise MARD on policy making for sustainable rice
value chain development
• Mobilise partners to develop and implement pro-
grammes/projects to promote sustainable rice value
chain, improve rice quality and farmers’ income
• Promote trade and investment through PPP scheme
and improve stakeholders’ capacity in the rice sector
• Forge closer collaboration among stakeholders
• Identify export opportunities, strengthen market
access for enterprises
• Introduce sustainable farming solutions for export
quality
• Publish, share and promote sustainable rice farming
practices to farmers on a large scale
The Rice PPP TF will be co-chaired by IPSARD (Institute
of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural
Development), a public sector representative, and
Bayer, a private sector representative. The TF
members include representatives of public-private
sectors, research institutes, universities, international
organisations, donors and farmers’ organisations.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

Rice PPP TF Organisation

The public sector includes the Department of Crop
Production, Department of Processing and Trading
of Agricultural, Forestry, Aquatic Products and Salt,
Department of Plant Protection, National Centre of
Agricultural Extension, International Cooperation
Department, VnSat PMU and representatives of the
provincial People’s Committees in Dong Thap and
An Giang. Dong Thap and An Giang are provinces
with the largest rice production areas. These provinces
also take the lead in developing large-scale fields and
piloting some projects in cooperation with private
companies such as Loc Troi Corporation and Bui Van
Ngo, a rice processing machinery company.

The active participation of the public sector can

generate spillover effects for stakeholders in the whole
chain, reduce risk and enhance the links between
farmers and enterprises, as well as support the initial
investment in the activities of the working groups.
While the public sector plays an important role during
the TF formation period, this is also an opportunity
for the public sector to access management skills and
improve resource utilisation efficiency from the
private sector.

The key role of the public sector is to provide develop-

ment orientation and policy support to create a proper
environment for the private sector and PPP projects
as follows:

• Setting objectives and directions for TF activities,

connecting with other national key development
programmes
• Supporting the private sector to access the network
of public experts and agencies for financial support
• Creating a conducive business environment,
attracting private investment and enhancing the
linkages between famers and enterprises
• Supporting policy, land, credit and other admi-
nistration
• Supporting the setup of farmer groups and
cooperatives; enhancing operations management
capabilities of farmers’ organisations
• Linking private partners and local institutions
through signing MOU or contract with specific
roles and responsibilities of partners
• Supporting farmer training and techniques
• Monitoring and evaluating PPP TF’s activities in
local areas and the whole sector
• Other support/ priorities

The private sector includes domestic and international
enterprises, farmers, farmers’ organisations, financial
institutions, NGOs and donors. These companies
comprise inputs providers, processing companies,
exporters and retailers to ensure the development in
all stages in the rice value chain. NGOs often act as an
intermediary between the public and private partners
to encourage the participation of small-scale farmers,
small- and medium-sized enterprises in PPP projects,
and fund for these projects. The companies joining
the TF have direct access to policy makers and offer
feedback on policy implementation problems at local
level. In addition, they can also gain access to local
investment opportunities and enjoy preferential
access to land and credit for local PPP projects.
The farmer group also plays an important role in
the implementation of public-private partnership
activities. According to successful cases in developing
value chains in other countries, farmers have formed
groups/cooperatives to represent them in contract
farming with enterprises. The group leaders are
responsible for training members in new technical
farming methods. The farmers’ organisations have
greatly contributed to promoting the relationships
among farmers, companies and local governments;
helping farmers to understand, negotiate and sign
contracts with reliable output and input providers;
assisting farmers to monitor and control farming
processes and product quality; providing administrative
services to farmers, private partners, banks and other
organisations. However, organisational capacity and
management of farmer groups should be supported
in the establishment stages.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
In general, the private sector has a key role in imple-
menting PPP projects, working directly with the
farmers’ organisations and the public sector to scale
up these projects. Specific roles include:
• Setting up and developing plans and PPP pilot
projects that include financial and market analysis
• Co-funding to conduct these projects
• Implementing PPP projects and pilot models that
follow the proposals and meet timeline
• Guaranteeing finance resources and market for
these projects through signing contracts with
farmers, cooperatives, other companies and finding
other investors
• Transferring new technology, providing input and
technical support for famers
• Ensuring market through signing contract with
famers’ organisations
• Supporting monitoring and evaluation of TF activities
In addition, the participation of research institutes,
universities, experts are necessary to provide financial
support and information related to world market
trends, market forecast, technical consultancy on area
selection, project plans, pilot models and other issues
affecting Viet Nam’s rice sector.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update
In the initial period, the Rice PPP TF should focus
on organisational structure, attracting members,
identifying priorities in action plan. Later on, the
Rice PPP TF will be further enhanced in terms of
institutional structure and scope of activities. The scale
of PPP projects should be expanded to local level,
strengthening the linkage between the partnership
members and stakeholders in the value chain. In
addition, the organisation of the TF has also been
developed and upgraded to the Commodity Board
(like VCCB)- the national organisation of the rice sector.
Specific activities in 2017 include:
• Reviewing existing programmes and projects
(such as VnSat, WB9, pilot programmes on socio-
economic development in MRD…) to engage with
TF activities
• Developing key performance indicators (KPIs) to
evaluate the TF’s efficiency
• Reviewing, providing comments and policy recom-
mendations to promote commodity development,
including rice land conversion, branding, export
regulations, credit support, mechanisation,
promoting regional linkages
• Organisations and institutions under the TF:
completing organisation, institutions and working
mechanisms, organising regular meetings twice
a year (the 1st meeting in March and the second
one in October 2017) to determine difficult issues
and propose policy reform
• Participation in the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)
to enhance global cooperation and promote
sustainable rice production;
• Implementing pilot projects following PPP scheme
(01 project in RRD and 03 projects in MRD) applying
sustainable farming techniques (in reference to
the SRP standard for sustainable rice cultivation)
with each project covering about 1,000 ha and a brand
name set up for companies in the implementation
group. Each project will be led by one company,
including Bayer, Loc Troi Corporation, Bui Van
Ngo Company in MRD (Mekong River Delta) and
Thai Binh Seed Company in RRD (the Red River
Plain); and domestic enterprises are encouraged to
participate.
• Establishing technical support groups to provide
guidelines on sustainable rice production for
farmer groups participating in the pilot projects
• Evaluating the pilot projects and propose plans for
scaling up
• Improving and sharing guidelines on sustainable rice
production, aligned with the SRP standard
• Developing rice database information system
covering farmers, production, weather, market and
policy support.
Activities for the 2018-2020 period may comprise:
• Improving organisations and institutions: developing
the PPP TF into Viet Nam Rice Coordination Board;
establishing subcommittees for production, market,
policy and institution
• Expanding the area of pilot projects for sustainable
rice production in RRD and MRD, achieving the goal
to 2020 with 20,000 farmers engaged and attracting
domestic enterprises to participate
• Attracting the participation of commercial banks,
financial institutions, supermarkets to develop
sustainable rice value chain and brand name for
5-10 Vietnamese rice products
• Promoting rice deep processing products
• Branding Vietnamese rice
Financial resources are mobilised from public-private
sectors as well as other sources. The budget for
regular activities has been supported by MARD
through PSAV (Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture
in Viet Nam) with contributions from private compa-
nies, international organisations and donors. For field
level PPP projects, MARD and local governments will
seek co-funding from other programmes and donors
such as VnSat and MeKong River Delta Development
Programme. The TF also actively finds funding from
organisations and individuals, both domestic and
international, to support the group’s activities.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

BRIA Indonesia
completes a farmer survey
for evaluation Photo credit © GIZ BRIA Indonesia

BRIA completed a baseline survey to compile profiles Respondents’ Profiles

of BRIA farmers and farming practices in the two
BRIA pilot provinces of North Sumatra and East The respondents are rice producing householders
Java and to monitor and evaluate the Impacts participating in the FFS. They are active farmers in
of BRIA interventions (Farmer Field School or their villages, best farming practitioners within the
FFS and Market Linkages) towards sustainability. communities. The purposive sampling method
The baseline survey covered 600 rice producing was used.
households, who were participants in the BRIA
programme covering three districts of Langkat and
Serdang Bedagai in North Sumatra and Jember in Age North Sumatra East Java
East Java. In the two provinces where the survey
(Yrs) Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
was conducted, agriculture is a very important sector
where most people work in the field. The total areas
for agriculture are large within the three districts. <35 48 17.6 43 13.1

35-44 65 23.8 94 28.7

45-54 101 36.6 113 34.6

55-64 47 17.2 52 15.9

>65 12 4.4 25 7.6

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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

Men are still the majority to represent a family. In East Java, only 26 participants in the survey are female while
301 are male. The decreasing number of female farmers in East Java might be due to agricultural modernisation
and technology, the reduction of cultivation land, characteristics of a feudal, patriarchal society, and overseas
employment opportunities as female labourers. The majority in North Sumatra were 51 years old and in East Java,
55 years old. There is a tendency that farming might not be a favorite option for the youth. In the last category,
farmers below 35 years old are still the minority with only 17.6% in North Sumatra and 13.1% in East Java.

Households usually have other kinds of income-earning activities such as animal husbandry or raising livestock.
Although tasks are divided between husband and wife, overall they both work collaboratively. 93.65% were married
(the union of two people as partners officially recognized by law and religion). Respondents feel socially and
psychologically settled. They have responsibilities towards their spouses and children. Therefore, farming is no
longer an experiment but it has been a permanent job for them.

Most respondents in North Sumatra and East Java have primary school education. However, about 5.9% and 5.2%
of respondents in both provinces did not complete primary school. It indicates that farmers’ education is low since
primary school is only the first stage of basic formal education in Indonesia.

Baseline Results
To ensure quality, it is important to identify the source of seeds being planted. In both provinces, most
respondents still depend on subsidised seed from the government. However, subsidised seed is
usually unstable in availability and it is sometimes difficult to have the seed or the seed is not available at the
preferred time of planting. Especially in North Sumatra, the use of seed from their own harvest is high at about
36.6%. Labelled seeds from particular seed growers still accounted for a low percentage at only 11% in North
Sumatra and 3.7% in East Java. To meet seed demand in North Sumatra, BRIA is supporting farmers to become
growers of quality rice seeds.

With regard to planting method, most respondents used Tegel/Ubin. BRIA is promoting the Jajar Legowo
principle (Legowo 4:1), which is to have a free space after 2 or 4 lines and add insert between crop inline. This
method has been proven to raise productivity. However, implementing Jajar Legowo will add a little bit more to the
planting cost (labour) since it takes more time to apply on the field than other types of planting methods.

The other aspect in planting technology is cultivation of other plants after the main crop has been harvested.
There are two contrasting characteristics in both provinces. In North Sumatra, 81.3% do not apply crop
rotation with only 18.7% rotating crops with vegetables, corn, soybean, and nuts. In East Java, 85.3% plant
rotation crops such as corn, soybean, vegetables, and nuts.

Regarding fertilisation, there are several kinds of fertilisers in Indonesia. Each fertiliser has its own nutrient
content. To apply fertiliser, farmers should have a specific calculation regarding the amounts of nutrients
needed. On the contrary, farmers rarely assess the nutrient content of their soil. They apply fertiliser based only
on their personal experience or common practices and recommendations while in fact, the use of PUTS
(Rapid Soil Test Kits) and BWD (Colour Leave Chart) are highly recommended. PUTS is used to define the dosage
before planting. BWD is used to define the dosage 21 days after planting.
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Better Rice Initiative Asia-Monthly Update

The survey results on pesticide application were as follows:

Indicator Category North East

Sumatra Java

1 Chosen time At the moment of the outbreak 72.9% 77.7%

to use Spraying calendar 5.1% 4.0%
pesticides Preventive action 21.2% 16.8%
Economic threshold 0.7% 1.5%

2 Ways to keep Inside the house with storage 18.7% 62.4%

pesticides Outside the house with storage 68.5% 19.9%
Inside the house without storage 3.7% 15.0%
Outside the house without storage 9.2% 2.8%

3 Treatment of Thrown away 85.8% 65.7%

disposable Re-cleaning, then buried 9.2% 18.6%
pesticide pack Burn down 5.1% 15.6%

4 Read pesticide Yes 82.8% 90.2%

label No 17.2% 9.8%

Concerning PPE application, skin contact is the most
common cause of pesticide poisoning for applicators
and some pesticides enter the body through the skin
quite readily. It is best to avoid direct contact with
pesticides by wearing proper Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE). In North Sumatra, 81.3% of respon-
dents claimed to use PPE. Only two types of PPE were
used, i.e. mask and long sleeve shirt. In East Java, 79.2%
of respondents claimed to use PPE. More types of PPE
were used such as long sleeve shirt (50.2%), mask
(23.5%), eye protector (4%), and hand gloves (1.5%).
Harvesting is the process of collecting the mature
rice crop from the field. Harvesting of paddy includes
cutting, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning and
hauling. Good harvesting methods maximise grain
yield and minimise grain damage and quality deteriora-
tion. Harvesting can be done manually with traditional
tools such as sickles and knives or mechanically with
the use of threshers or combine harvesters.
The survey has showed that farmers have a lot of
experiences in rice production. The majority of
householders have been trained on technical practices
with comprehensive understanding about basic rice
production techniques. Several householders have
also been trained on and applied sustainable rice
farming. These elements have become favorable
conditions for introducing and transferring new rice
production techniques and technical knowledge.
Readers can obtain the full reports on baseline
survey of BRIA farmers for the four countries from
Publications of the BRIA website.
 In Collaboration with National and Regional Agencies and

Published by:

BRIA Regional Secretariat Office

39/1 Soi Sukhumvit 13, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
bria@giz.de
www.better-rice-initiative-asia.org

Responsible for the content:

Suriyan Vichitlekarn (BRIA Regional Director)
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