MBK has recommended Wa-u

cultivationーTo aspire for utilization of local resourcesー

MBK

M. Matsumoto

There are many problems to solve in mountainous

areas, a case sample in Japan

Current situation

Declining population

Declining agriculture and forestry

Political measures required to solve problems

Introduction cash crops instead of subsistence crops

Encouragement of organic farming

Field improvement

Building out complementary interaction on water resource between mountainous areas and urban districts

Cash crops appropriate for mountainous areas

• The cash crops are required land-suitability and

economic potential to make up low labor productivity.

• Examples in Japan: Citrus, Tea, Lacquer trees, Paper

bush, Konjak, Vegetables etc.

Konjak occupied an important position as a cash crop in

the mountainous regions.

The high land is clean and cool, where is suited for

organic farming and product’s storing.

Wa-u is a promising cash-crop

• Wa-u is a tuberous plant which has high land-productivity and is a

profitable crop in tropical regions.

• Wa-u plants grow naturally in Myanmar.

• The Wa-u market has already established in Mandaly and Yangon.

• The current market price of Wa-u product is high.

Unit price dried chips of Wa-u yielded in northern Chin is 12,000ks/viss as

of Feb.2019 in Yangon.

Import volume Sum of money Unit price

187,125kg 185,079,000yen 989yen/kg

( Trade Statistic of Japan, 2018)

FD-JICA-MBK project activities in Natmataung area

Output : Cultivation of Wa-u is disseminated to villagers in the model villages

Information of knowledge, cultivation technique

Holding of seminars in Kanpetlet and Mindat

Cooperation among villagers, park-rangers and

experts

Survey, field-trial

Survey on Wa-u growth, yield at trial fields in model

villages

Selection of model villages: Oak Pho, Yeolongpan, Hilong

Activities

Current status in Kanpetlet, 2018:Wa-u production has developed into one of important industrials in the township.

Modelvillage

Wa-u grower

(household)

Training session participant

Distribution of Wa-u

seed-tubers (kg)

ResultsCultivation technique

Processing method

Eden 32 15 11 1,560 *34% villagers wanted to cultivate Wa-u under agroforestry system and hope to continue it. *30farmers have acquired Wa-u cultivation technique. *Two alternate Wa-u plants were found out.

Kyauk Moe 8 5 1 384

Taung Kya 20 3 11 960

FD-JICA-MBK project activities in Shan state

Output 3: Cultivation of Wa-u is disseminated to villagers in the model villages

FD-JICA-MBK project activities in southern Shan area

Output : Cultivation technologies are transferred through cropping of local

plant resources such as Wa-u so that they are yielded by target villagers

Information of knowledge, cultivation technique

Holding of seminars and workshops

Setting up an exhibit field

Cooperation among FD staff,

villagers and experts

Survey, field-trial

Growth, yield on an exhibit field and

trial fields in model villages

Selection of model villages: Three villages in Ywangan

Seedlings propagation Field trials Selection of promising

species

A. Muerreli at Koe Gway

A.Krausei in Ywangan

Utilization of local plant resources

Increase in income

Activities

MBK recommend Wa-u cultivation under jinenjo culture in Japan

Cirtus: Intercropping with woody crops

Wa-u plant

Mulching by straw/grass

Weeding

Harvesting big corms

drying them under Sun

Primary processing

(Drying tuber slices)

Shipping

Mulching

with grass

(dried grass

1kg/feet2)

Pre-

rainy

season

Rainy

season

Dry

season

Break dormant(Planting seed corms

2feet×1feet spacing)

Sprouting

Leaf developing

Growing season

Forming a new

corms and it grows to

a larger size Weeding

Going dormant

In case of planting

culture,

store seed corms

Cropping Calendar of Wa-u

under Agroforestry system

Key Points for Sustainable Wa-u Production

Pest Control

Not to bring infection source in a field.

To use healthy seed tubers which are produce in disease-free fields.

To remove debris of infected plants and weed.

To prevent diseases from spreading widely.

Quick-removal of infected plants

Crop rotation

Mulching with green grass

Drainage countermeasures (high ridge, open ditch)

Usage of resistant or tolerant cultivars

Storage of seed-tubers under right condition: Postharvest corm rot is common

and appears to be associated with inadequate ventilation and improper wound

healing; Sclerotium rolfsii, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Botryodiplodia theobromae,

Ceratoicystis fimbriata, Fusarium oxysporum.

Good Agriculture PracticeTo keep the field clean: Remove and dispose of infected plants/crop residues.

To take proper weeding up to the leaf elongation stage.

To cover the soil surface with grass(green mulch).

To apply fermented compost/farm-yard manure.

Soil conservation

What is Wrong with My Wa-u Plants?

Observation DiagnosisIdentification of

the causeHow to manage

Disorder Cause Measures

Disease Virus Disease-free seed-tuber/Intercropping with woody plants/Crop rotation/Resistant variety /Copper sprays or Fungicides application/Green-mulch/Weeding

Bacteria

Fungi

Insect damage Nematode Crop rotation

Insect Natural enemy insects

Nutrient disorder Deficiency Fertilizers/manure application

Excess Compost application

Weather Drought Green-mulching

Damp Slope farm

Heat Shade-trees

Growers

Middle men

Millers

Food companies

Consumers

Processing and distributing of Wa-u

To make dried sliced-tubers and refined flour

CultivationTo make dried sliced-tubers

The Japan market assesses quality of Wa-u on viscosity of refined flour

To make konnyakufoods

Making dried slices of Wa-u in S Chin Mature Tuber → To cut a tuber in 3-5mm thick of slices → To hang the slices out to dry (Moisture content of dry matter is about 12%) →Refined

flour (dry matter ×0.6)

Konjac gel

‘Oden’: a popular Japanese dish with Konjac

Figure Thickness Color Figure Viscosity

Chainese strain-1 Thin Gray 104 Good

Chainese strain-2 Thin Gray 129 Good

Japanese strain Thin Ash gray 146 Very good

Wild race-1 Slightly thickBrownish

gray49

Not

marketable

Wild race-2 Thin Light yellow 90 Marketable

Z) Tuber cultivation in Hopong, 2015 and dry matter processing in Kalaw, Shan. Refined flour processing and estimating in Japan, 2016.

Results of quality estimation by a konyac miller Z)

SampleDry matter Refined flour

Grade

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

Aug. 2019

MBK Matsumoto Mitsuo

Turmeric cultivation

Aug. 2019

MBK Matsumoto Mitsuo

Transition of Agriculture

Extensive farming

Intensive farming

Smart farming

Water, Manures Farm tools

Input

Fertilizers, Pesticides, herbicides Agricultural machineries

IoT, Computer telecommunication, Sensors

Quantity QualityOn-demand

market

Marketing

Right crop for right land

Both high yielding and high quality is required

on the production of cash crops

Turmeric is an important cash crop in southeast tropical and subtropical Asia

The turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) is a perennial

herb belonging to the ginger family

Turmeric requires warm and moist condition.

Temperature range of 18-35℃,

A well-distributed rainfall of 1000-2000mm

Turmeric grows well on loose and friable, well-

drained, loamy, fertile soils, but cannot

waterlogging and alkaline soils.

Phase of growth and development

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12No. of

Month

EstablishmentShoot growth &

finger initiationRhizome growth Dormancy

Number of

leaves Weight of

rhizomes

Planting

Mulching

Sprouting

Phase

FloweringLeaves turn

yellowFading

HarvestingFertilizing Field preparation:

Applying manure

Plowing

Irrigating

Weed control

Seed rhizomes

preservation

Processing

Key points of cultivation (1)

Well-preparation of fields: Plowing deeply, if possible up

to 30cm depth, applying large amount of organic manure,

making flat beds or ridges and furrow.

Selection of fields: Sunny, and deep in available soil ,

fertile in plow layer, available in irrigation water

Selection of good seed rhizomes: disease-

free, wound-free and 30-50g in fresh weight

Plant density: Spacing of 45-60cm

×25cm, planting 8-12cm in depth

Planting time is depend on

varieties, planting materials

and climatic condition such

as rainfall pattern

Key points of cultivation (2)Mulching of straw, grass is effective at preserving soil water,

stabilizing soil temperature, reducing weed damage and

improves growth and yield of turmeric.

Application of fertilizers depends on soil

conditions, varieties and crop management

Irrigation at the right time is effective in high

yielding with high quality.

Weed control

Expected yield (t/ha) 6.5-9.0 F.W.

Absorption quantity(kg/t of yield) N 16 : P2O5 3 : K2O 45

Efficiency of fertilizer application 50%

Application amount of fertilizer(kg/ha) N : P2O5 : K2O

Leaf blotch

Taphrina malucans

Leaf spot

Colletotrichum capsici

Rhizome rot

Pythium aphanidermatum

Major diseases of Turmeric

Pest management

1. Using disease-free seed rhizomes

2. Field sanitation

Ginger field in

Kochi

Mulching ｗｉｔｈｓｕｇａｒｃａｎｅ ｗａｓtｅ

Sprinkler

Windbreak

net

Turmeric in a home garden,

Kochi, JPN

Curcuma longa

C. aromaticaC. zedoaria

Herb garden in

MBK

Literature1. K. Sivaraman, 2007. Turmeric.

CRC Press, New York. pp. 129-

145.

2. K.R. Dahal,1999. Spices. Plant

Resources South-East Asia.

Backhuyo Publisher, Leiden. pp.

111-116.

3. Kinjo Kaneo, 2007. Ukon.

Noubunkyou, Tokyo. pp. 19-65.

Thank you very much!