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THE 1'\VO ;MATURE TECHNOLOGIES<br />

Direct (dry) seeded rice (DSR) and mungbean before rice were mature<br />

technolog~es that u ~re adopted on a large scale because <strong>the</strong>y were simple and<br />

easy to practice. DSR was recommended for areas where rainfall was unreliable<br />

(e.g., in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>ast and in amphoe Dok Kham Tai, Phayao).<br />

Land preparation for DSR starts as soon as <strong>the</strong>re is adequate rainfall.<br />

Rice seeds should be coated with irisecticide to prevent insect damage before<br />

germination. Seeding should be done in June-July in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn areas and in<br />

August-September in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn areas. The rice varieties should be drought-<br />

tolerant and appropriate to local rainfall patterns. A mechanical seeder is<br />

recommended to facilitate weeding and o<strong>the</strong>r cultural operations. To support<br />

this recommendation, <strong>the</strong> project, through <strong>the</strong> Agricultural Engineering<br />

Division, developed l-row to 4-row mechanical seeders. Because manual labor<br />

was required to operate <strong>the</strong>se machines, farmers thought <strong>the</strong> task would be<br />

difficult. Therefore, <strong>the</strong>y resorted to draft animals but had little success. Finally,<br />

small tractors Lvere used to pull <strong>the</strong> seeder, and this was received with a fair<br />

degree of acceptability. Preemergence herbicides and chemical fertilizers were<br />

also recommended.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn area, where conditions are drier, farmers failed to grow a<br />

good crop of transplanted rice (TPR) in about 2 out of every 3-4 yr. In this<br />

situation, DSR would have a positive impact because farmers would not need to<br />

wait for hea\y rains to establish <strong>the</strong> rice. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, DSR can withstand<br />

drought better than transplanted rice toward <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> rainy season because<br />

of its early establishment and maturity.<br />

The estimated gross margin from DSR was about THB1940lha using <strong>the</strong><br />

recommended levels of inputs. The cost of inputs for DSR is less than for TPR.<br />

Direct seeded rice ivas more stable than TPR in rainfed areas. At amphoe<br />

(district) Dok Kham Tai, Phayao, where <strong>the</strong> cost of labor during rice<br />

transplanting was high. DSR was Inore profitable (UNDP/FAO 1986).<br />

hlungbean before rice was designed to capture early season soil moisture<br />

and to supplement farm income. hlungbean can be established before ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />

TPR or DSR, depending on local rainfall patterns. Land preparation for<br />

mungbean inust be done immediately after <strong>the</strong> onset of <strong>the</strong> wet season, i.e., in<br />

late April or early May. Seeding should be done immediately after land<br />

preparation using <strong>the</strong> same mechanical seeders used in DSR. However, <strong>the</strong> size<br />

of <strong>the</strong> slots must be adjusted (Suvanchinda et al 1980). The reconlmended<br />

mungbean varieties are Utong 1, VC 1178, Kampaengsaen 1, and<br />

Kampaengsaen 2. Utong 1, howei~er, had more problems than <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

varieties. The yield of Utong 1 decreased whenever <strong>the</strong> field was waterlogged. It<br />

also had more than one flowering and pod-setting period, which prolonged <strong>the</strong><br />

harvest, increased labor for harvesting, and delayed <strong>the</strong> next crop. For all<br />

varieties, insecticide application was recommended whenever necessary;<br />

however, fertilizer was not needed.

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