Head of the district’s Agriculture and Forestry Office, Mr Kouynaly Boudtalard, said farmers had planted rice on 5,706 hectares, equalling\u00a096 per cent of the target area.\u00a0The start of the season was plagued by water shortages which\u00a0affected 400 hectares and rice was damaged on 14.9 hectares.\u00a0Later on, some rice fields were inundated by floods and the viable crop area was reduced to 4,800 hectares so district officials and villagers took special care to protect the plants and prevent pest damage. Farmers have now harvested 17 per cent of the crop and are\u00a0anticipating a yield of 16,368 tonnes.\u00a0In addition, villagers grew vegetables on 100 hectares.<\/p>\n