All three QRPC are planned to be commissioned from Oct. to Dec 1999. The project has a close co-operation with universities and research institutes for a wide range of training and applied research. The training activities include installation of dryers, IPM, demonstration plots, variety selection and drying technique to operation of the rice mills.
Target groups are mainly farmers, but also extension workers at all levels.
Most applied research focuses on improving the quality of drying facilities, especially flat bed dryers, and selecting as well as developing rice varieties with good grain quality, high yield potential and resistance to major insect pest and diseases. The project with its credit scheme do help farmers especially in the two provinces of Can Tho and Soc Trang with drying facility installations. The credit model will be expanded to several provinces in the Mekong River Delta under the Improved Post Harvest Handling Component within the coming Danida Sector Programme Support in Agriculture.