Local Rice Genetic-diversity in Northeastern Thailand

By

Bhundhit  Piyasilp [1] and Areewan  Kusanthia    [2]

Geography

Northeastern Thailand has an area of 106 millions rai (one rai =1600 sq.m), including 39 millions rai of rice field.  Most of rice field is flat, where water level is less than one meter. In some areas, the rice field topography is uneven due to the shallow basin land characteristic. Soil is generally infertile, consisting of sandy soil and gritty soil.  In some areas, the soil is saline. Generally, northeast’s environment and climate is semi-arid.  Almost all rice fields are basically rainfed.  

I-sarn (Northeast) culture

“Rice” has been involved in I-sarn people’s way of life. It is merged into their culture and beliefs, from birth through the death.  Sumontha Hlaochai, a farmer from Saelapoom, Roi-et province said, “When I was young, my mother would castigate and punish me if I could not finish my rice.  She told me that rice is sacred and worthy.”   

There are several cultural activities related to rice: 

First, there are rituals in growing rice before the farmers transplant rice seedling, include putting dust in the field, sacrificing and venerating the goddess of rice. Phi-ta-hag is the first ploughing ceremony and first transplanting rice seedling ceremony.  Next, there are rituals in the harvesting of rice. This includes the rice cremation ceremony to show respect to the goddess of rice and earth.   Before the farmers store rice in the storehouse, there is also a ceremony calling back the rice spirit.   

Besides the rice production rites, rice also involves a  “Ghost” that the I-sarn people believe in.  This belief is related to the “Heed sib-song Klong sib-si”, the northeastern tradition and culture reflecting the farmers’ philosophy about rice. Some of the ”Heed sib-song Klong sib-si" ceremonies include: Boon khun lan  (celebrated on Thai 12^th month), Boon kow jee (on the 15^th waxing moon on the Thai 3^rd month), Kob bor mee dak Naka bor mee hu-kee, to consult ancestor spirit herein the chicken soup indicates water quantity for each year.  The other ceremonies are Boon bung fai and Hae nang meaw to ask for rain.  When it rains, there is the Hag-na ceremony for moral support and to welcome the rice-growing season. The Thai 10^th month has the Boon kaw sak where the people flock to the temple to thank the spirit and to bring rice back to the field for prosperity.  The Boon Auk-pun-saa, is when the monks are out of Buddhist Lent, During this time, the farmers light the lantern and offer the Buddha with developing panicles of the rice. After harvest, there is Boon home kaw. 

From generation to generation, the I-sarn people have retold several legends of rice such as Lan-Chang chronicle, Praya Than, and Hma-kaw hang or nine-tail dog, etc. The detail of legends may be different from one area to the other, depending on local belief and culture.  Distinctively, the I-sarn custom and relationship systems are benevolent, and friendly to everyone.  As the result, the rice genetic-diversity is able to exist.  For instance, if rice is totally unproductive because of flooding in lowland rice field or drought on upland rice field, farmers can borrow, share, or exchange rice grains among relatives and neighbor, both within and outside the communities, whether it is nearby or some distance from their own communities.   

All of the related rice tradition, ceremonies, legends, beliefs, and relation systems are not only illustrative of the local community and people’s way of life but they also reflect the benevolence between humans and nature, as well as among humans. Consequently, this has absolute influences on local rice genetic conservation and management. 

Rice Genetic-diversity

The chant indicates that each community acknowledged rice diversity (Box 1).  According to the elderly in the I-sarn communities, in the past, each family would grow at least 3-5 rice varieties in their fields.  The selection of rice variety to be grown depends on the culture, belief, local geography and other factors.

Even though so many rice varieties had been lost during the past 30 years, the study of local rice genetic in northeastern Thailand conducted in year 2000-2001 shows that the farmers still remember more than a hundred of rice varieties species.  These farmers were members of the Alternative Agricultural Network in the lowland plain rice field areas in the provinces of Surin, Roy-et, Yasothorn, Khalasin, Mhasarakarm, Khonkhan. At present, more than fifty kinds of rice are still being grown in these areas.

Local rice genetic-diversity in Northeastern Thailand

What follows are the local rice varieties found in Northeast Thailand, their characteristics as described by the local people and their relationships with the way of life of the local people. 

The farmers in Northeast Thailand have maintained and conserved these local rice species because of the following reasons.

1. Specific local rice varieties are very well adapted to the various rice ecosystems found in the area. The five different rice ecosystems in Northeast Thailand are as follows:

a.      Flooded or deep water rice field. The adapted rice varieties have the special characteristic that enable it the ability to elongate its stems as the water level increases. These rice varieties are usually late maturing, and are harvested in December. Examples such local varieties are; Chao-loy, Chao-nang-mao, and Chao-nang-mon. A medium maturing variety that has this characteristic is Kow-diow. This variety is  harvested in November.

b.       Lowland rice field.  The most adapted rice varieties for lowland rice field are medium maturing varieties that are usually harvested in November. Examples of this are: glutinous rice; Kaw-khum,  Kaw-khum-kab-bai-dum, Nang-nuan, San-pa-tong, Ma-kur, rice; Chao-Hom-mali-dang, and Chao-bong-kasatriya- Chao-dang.

c.       Swamp (mire) soil rice field  The adapted rice species under this condiation are late maturing varieties that are harvested in December. Examples of such local rice are glutinous rice; Ee-tom-kow, and Ee-tom-yai.

d.       Highland rice field. The adapted rice varieties early-maturing-varieties that are  harvesting in October. Examples of these varieties are glutinous rice; Dou-kaw, Dou-maung-laos, Hleung-boon-ma, and Wit-nee. Among the medium maturing varieties adapted to this condition are glutinous rice; Pla-siew and Mae-hang..

e.       Hill slopes or high paddy rice field. The adapted rice varieties inder this condition are medium maturing varieties such as glutinous rice; Ee-noi.

2.   The rice eating culture and preferences of the I-sarn people. Although it is well known that most I-sarn people prefer glutinous rice, different areas within the region have different culture in eating rice.  Most I-sarn people in Central and upper northeastern, such as Khonkhan, Mahasarakham, Roi-et, and Yasothorn provinces, prefer tender and fine scented long-slender glutinous rice such as Hleung-boon-ma, and Nang-nuan.  On the other hand, I-sarn people in lower northeastern, such as Surin, Bhurirum, Srisaket provinces, prefer small and fluffy cooking rice. Examples of this are Chao-bong-kasatriya, Chao-nang-mon and Chao-nang-mao. The Phu-Thai group in Kalasintu province likes to eat big grain glutinous rice, such as, Mae-hang, Ee-noy, and Kow-diow.

3.    Medical beliefs. Many people believe that eating some rice varieties is good for health.  For example, people in Surin province and lower I-sarn believe that Bong-kasatriya glutinous rice, and rice such as Chao-nang-mao and Chao-nang-mon could strengthen their body to work for longer periods as well as cure bone diseases. On the other hand, some others believe that certain rice varieties such as Kor-Khor rice which is so tender is not good for diabetics. It can cause a disease called Kor-Khor, the Thai initials that stands for Rice Department of the Agriculture Ministry.

4.   The special rice varieties for cooking specific food or dessert in festival or traditional ceremony  These rice varieties usually ripe and ready to be harvested for festival or traditional ceremony periods.  For example, Kow-khum ,  Kaw-khum-kab-bai-dum, Ee-tom-kow glutinous rice are proper for shredded rice grain, Kanom-hor, other dessert, and Sa-tho.  Rice varieties such as Chao-dang and Choa-bong-kasatriya are good for cooking Kanom-jean.

5.       Food security and labor allocation. Many farmers grow different rice varieties with different maturity periods, i.e., early-, medium- and late - maturing-varieties, to ensure that they have rice supply all throughout the year. Before the main harvest season and when the in storage is almost empty, the farmers would grow an early maturing variety because of the urgent need for rice. In addition, the planting of different rice varieties with different maturity periods enables the farmers to manage and allocate family labor more wisely.  

6.       Market demand. The price of some local rice varieties in the market is higher than others. Because of this, farmers tend to grow those varieties in demand. Data gathered by the Tung-kula-ronghai in Surin, Yasorthorn, and Roi-et provinces, indicate that the popularity of Jasmine rice, Chao-hom-mali and Chao-hleung-oon, etc., is due to its high price in the market.  Consequently, the available rice for family or community consumption decreases. The market price condition is a significant factor that effects farmer decision-making. In any year, if the market price of jasmine rice is high, areas planted to other rice varieties are lower.

7.       Reduce cost of production. Local rice varieties are strong, insect/disease resistant, and are already adjusted to the local environment.  They are high yielding and do not require pesticide or chemical fertilizer.  This reduces the cost of rice production.

8.       Conservation spirituality. Some farmers are conscious that all local rice varieties are descended from their ancestors who used to grow them.  These rice varieties therefor, are not supposed to be lost from their rice field. 

Threats to the conservation of the I-sarn local rice diversity

The genetic diversity of local rice has been critically decreasing, In the past, each family grow 3-5 rice varieties in their rice fields. However, due to the government extension and promotion program, farmers have been gradually changing their varieties government bred "HYVs" such as Kor-Khor 6, Kor-Khor 8, Kor-Khor 15 and Kow-dok-mali 105 (white jasmine).  The two most important threats affecting the erosion of the I-sarn local rice diversity are over commercialization (export orientation) and rice breeding policy.

1.       The Thai government emphasis on export of rice.

According to a local rice variety survey Tung-kula-ronghai, in Surin, Yasorthorn, and Roi-et provinces, there were more than a hundred rice varieties in these areas in the past. At present, most farmers in these areas are growing only one jasmine rice variety because of its high market price. 

The Thai government policy, especially the Agricultural Extension Department, aimed to extend only twelve rice commercial varieties throughout the country. These varieties are:

·        Three glutinous rice varieties namely: Kor-Khor 6, Kor-Khor 8 and Kor-Khor 10.

·        Seven rice varieties, most of them are products of breeding with Jasmine rice, namely; Kor-Khor 7, Kor-Khor 13, Kor-Khor 23, Kho-Khor 25, Supanburi 60, and Supanburi 90.

·        Two local rice varieties namely: Sunpatong glutinous rice and Hom-dok-mali 105 (Jasmine rice).

Local rice varieties were considered low quality rice due to their variable size and shape that make them not inappropriate for milling in the existing rice mills. This is because market demand, rice mills were adjusted to mill only long grain rice. This is one of the reasons why many farmers gave up growing local rice varieties

2.       Thai Government policy on rice breeding and research

Rice breeding and research by the government do not acknowledge the importance of local rice varieties.  Instead, the focus is on the development of rice varieties that are marketable and are responsive to modern rice production that relies on the use of pesticides and fertilizers. As a result, local rice varieties that are suitable for specific rice ecosystems and community demands were lost.  

Local rice genetic conservation and development

Since the last decade, the farmers from the northeast have been organized with the establishment of the Northeastern Alternative Agriculture Network. Its main objectives are to seek alternative agriculture systems and to improve the quality of life of the farmers. The farmers had analyzed their situation came to the conclusion that the commercial agricultural system, especially the export-oriented agriculture is too dependent on developments from the outside. Consequently, this resulted to poverty, indebtedness, and other important problems that farmers must confront.

The members of the network developed several alternative agricultural production systems such as integrated agriculture, agro-forestry, organic farming, and non-chemical agriculture agricultural system. They also have been more aware of, and the development of local wisdom in areas such as use of medicinal plants and local food preservation.  Hence, the farmers in the Northeastern Alternative Agriculture Network were very aware of the importance of the local rice varieties and the need to develop and improve them.

In 1997, the “Local Plant Varieties Improvement and Preservation Network” was established involving several NGOs. The network’s members were from Surin, Yasothorn, Khonkhan, Mahasarakham, and Kalasintu provinces.  The purpose of the network is to conserve and improve local rice varieties to provide for community needs. Many I-sarn farmers are still growing different local rice varieties to provide for family and community needs (household and community food security). Under this context, it is important to adjust the ways of rice genetic conservation and development to make them appropriate to social changes as well as local knowledge. 

The farmer-members of the network have recently initiated survey and collection of local rice varieties that had 'disappeared'.  Through field experimentation in farmer's fields, these materials would be grown and selected under different rice ecosystems. The network members also plan to breed rice varieties that would provide for community needs. Both farmers’ local knowledge and experiences and those of the outsiders will be used in complementary manner to reach their goals. 

Full farmers’ participation in local rice breeding will be used to improve rice characteristic. This approach is the only viable option considering the prevailing circumstances, particularly the erosion of the diversity of the local rice that is fundamental to food security and life quality for all people. 

To achieve their goals, the network members are proposing the following methodologies and strategies to conserve and develop local rice.

1.       The farmers should exchange and spread local rice strain among communities, and networks as much as possible, so the farmers can enrich local rice diversity. 

2.       The farmers should experiment on the conservation and improvement of local rice in the field. The results of the experimentation would be extended to others.

3.       The farmers should raise public awareness and consciousness of the importance of local plant varieties and take direct action in the field.

4.       The farmers should record knowledge/information on local rice to ensure the continuity of the work on conservation and development.

5.       At the field, regional, national, and international levels, the farmers should meet regularly (annually) and exchange local varieties and associated traditional knowledge.

6.       The farmers should establish local rice genetic conservation and developments networks, and extend their activities to other local plant genetic resources. 

7.       Local knowledge and tradition related to local rice varieties, conservation and development should be documented.

8.       The farmers should collaborate to protest against the control of rice and plant genetic resources by multinational companies, GMOs, and other policies that transgress community rights in local plants.

At the policy level, the following are the proposals to strengthen local rice genetic diversity, conservation and development:

1.       The government should support farmers implementing field level projects on rice conservation and development. Any work on local rice conservation and development should be participatory, conscious of local culture, beliefs, knowledge and farmer wisdom, and appropriate to the local ecosystem.

2.       Any policy related to rice and plant genetic resource conservation and management should be consider Farmers' and Communities’ right over these resources.  It should not lead to any monopolies on rice and plant genetic resources and should be supportive of Farmers’  and/or Community  Rights. 

The I-sarn Network of Local Rice Genetic Conservation and Development

Background

The Alternative Agricultural Network and other non-government organization (NGO) networks believe that the agricultural biodiversity is important in development. The shifts in both Thailand and world agricultural system, from traditional to green revolution, and now to the era of globalization involves genetic resources.  The green revolution technology was marked by the change from local varieties to so-called high yielding varieties (HYV's) or hybrids.  Consequently, local genetic diversity was decimated and some local species even became extinct.  At present, the multinational companies are using biotechnology and bioengineering to modify genetic resources and produced what is now called genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Then, these materials are patented. This would further destroy whatever is left of the native genetic resources that the farmers still possess. Monopolization by multinational company of genetic resources will give them infinite benefits at the expense of the farmers.

The Alternative Agriculture Network has been involved with the use of local genetic as a means to improve and promote sustainable agriculture.  Since 2000, it has collaborated with the Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends Association (RRAFA), Biodiversity and Community Right Action Thailand (BIOTHAI) and Kaw Kwan Foundation (Formerly known as Technology for Rural and Ecological Enrichment or TREE) to work on genetic resources issues. At the field level, they have supported the local farmers to analyze the situation, identify problems, and advocate for policy reforms supportive of the local activities.        

Rice was the first focus in analyzing the issues because it has economic, social and cultural dimensions in both the production and consume processes. It is also closely linked with the I-sarn culture and beliefs.  The networks aims to conserve and improve local rice genetic resources to provide for as many as farmers’ needs. More importantly, the farmers should have control and ownership of rice genetic resources. The approach is farmer centered and participatory. Together with field level practice, these are core of the genetic conservation and development.  This approach is more sustainable and effective than just storing rice species in the seed bank because rice would be able to adjust into the real world environmental situation. 

Working process and methodology 

The working process on genetic issue of the I-sarn Alternative Agricultural Network began with a meeting to develop a strategic regional plan. This activity was started from the agroecological areas that were interested in acting as a group. Field activities were then extended to other areas.  After that, a working group, consisting of representatives from the agroecological areas, at the regional and national levels, was established.  The working group designed, planned and implemented activities to obtain their objectives.  At the present, the working group consisted of 15 members.

Since 2000, the local rice varieties had been collected, documented and studied in six provinces, including Surin, Roi-et, Yasothorn, Kalasintu, Mahasarakham, and Khonkhan.  The study was focused on plain fields rice varieties.  More than 50 varieties of local rice were collected from different areas and their characteristics and associated local knowledge were documented.

After the study, the network conducted a seminar on the importance of local rice strains, in collaboration with both regional and central support units. The experienced regional organizations included TREE, RRAFA and BIOTHAI provided the different supports for the participants. TREE provided the training on seed selection and breeding techniques. RRAFA provided the training on the learning processes while BIOTHAI supported the group on monitoring and formulation of related policies.  There were forty farmer participants from seven geo-ecological areas, including Suring, Roi-et, Thung-kula-ronghai, Kalasintutu, Yasothorn, upper Khonkhan- lower Khoraj, and Mahasarakham.  The trainers who provided information about the importance of local rice varieties and why farmers should conserve these local varieties inspired the participants. During the training-seminar, the farmers exchanged local rice varieties among from different geo-biological areas.

After recognizing the importance and urgency of conserving and improvement of the local rice, the farmers were very enthusiastic in growing local rice in their farms. Unfortunately, they do not have some of the seeds anymore. Selected local rice seeds were distributed to the participants to experiment in their fields. Regional staffs of the Northeastern Alternative Agricultural Network in each geo-ecological area have been doing monitoring and follow-up of the experiments.

The monitoring results indicated that after participants had grown the local rice in the field for a while, they were not certain whether the rice was local rice or not anymore because they did not know specific characteristic of each species.  A workshop on local rice seed selection was conducted for farmers in each geo-ecological.  The training module included the importance of seed selection and the related issues at both national and international levels that affect the farmers. Examples of this are the effect of government’s breeding rice and extension policy, TRIPs agreement, bio-piracy and GMOs.  Technique related contents included specific rice characteristic and seed selection.  The farmers practiced the panicle seed selection in the field.  They were also given hands-on activity on unpolished rice culture.  Finally, each farmer prepared individual plans, community plans, geo-ecological area plans, and network plans.  The plans provided information about the strengths and constraint as well as their needs at different levels.

Plans for the future

At present, there are seven knowledgeable and able farmers in each of the six geo-ecological who are working have on the conservation, selection and breeding of local rice.  More than 30 rice varieties have been collected.  These farmers not only practiced what they learned in their field but also teach other farmers.  More than 100 farmers in the seven geo-ecological areas are interested in the growing and improvement of local rice in their fields.

The farmer network of local rice genetic conservation and development is in the process of encouraging other farmers, improving their techniques, and sharing related political issues, problems and impacts.  Although some farmers could analyze and understand the relationship of the issues and their work, most of them could not because the learning process requires time for comprehension.  Consequently, in the future, the directions of network are focused on providing the learning process, information about related political issues and impacts. It is also planned to expand activities to other local vegetable and medicinal plants as well as local animal strains.  Hopefully, this would increase bio-diversity in the field and bring back the sustainable and sufficient agriculture system in the farmer's fields. 

[1] Alternative Agriculture Network (Northeastern Thailand)

[2] 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