Growing Diversity - Asia
TITLE OF EXPERIENCE: Local Rice Genetic-diversity in Northeastern Thailand
AUTHOR: Bhundhit Piyasilp from Alternative Agriculture Network (Northeastern Thailand), and Areewan Kusanthia from Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends Association(RRAFA)
COUNTRY AND REGION: Thailand
ECOLOGICAL ZONE:
ABSTRACT
“Rice” is merged into I-sarn (Northeast Thailand) people’s culture and beliefs. There are rice-related tradition, ceremonies, legends and practices that illustrate the local people's way of life. This is one of the main reasons for the very rich rice genetic diversity at I-sarn.
However, a study conducted by the Alternative Agricultural Network on local rice genetic resources in I-sarn conducted in year 2000-2001 shows that although the farmers can still remember more than a hundred local rice varieties, only more than fifty kinds of rice are still being grown in the area. The characteristics of the 25 local varieties still being grown and their relationship with the way of life and utilization of the local people is presented.
The two main threats causing loss of the I-sarn local rice diversity are the Thai governments' emphasis on export of rice and its policy on rice breeding and research. The Agricultural Extension Department is promoting only twelve long grain commercial varieties of rice with export potential in the whole country. As a result, the rice mills adjusted their milling machines to mill only long grain rice. Since, local varieties have variable sizes and shapes; low priced and low quality rice is produced. This is the main reason why many farmers gave up growing local rice varieties.
To address the problems confronting the loss of local rice genetic diversity and provide for the community needs, the “Local Plant Varieties Improvement and Preservation Network” was organized in 1997. The farmer-members of the network have initiated the survey and collection of local rice varieties, conducted field experimentation under different rice ecosystems, and is planning to develop and breed rice varieties that would provide for their community needs. In the training of farmers, discussion of related issues at both national (government breeding rice and extension policy) and international levels (TRIPs agreement, bio-piracy and GMOs) that affect the farmers are included.
At present, there are seven knowledgeable and able farmers in each of the six geo-ecological who are working on the conservation, selection and breeding of local rice. More than 30 rice varieties have been collected and these farmers are not only practicing what they have learned in their fields but also teaching other farmers. In the future, the network is also planning to expand their activities to include local vegetables and medicinal plants as well as local animal strains. They are hoping that this would increase bio-diversity in the field and bring back the sustainable and sufficient agriculture system in the farmer's fields.
CONTACT:
Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends Association(RRAFA), 86 Soi Ladprao110(yeak2) Wangthonglang Bangkok 10310 Thailand 10310, Tel. No. 66-2-9352981/9352982, Fax. No. 66-2-9352980, email: rrafa@loxinfo.co.th