Poaceae

Little chicken rice is a unique type of traditional sticky rice from Laos known for its distinctive shape and size. The grains are small and round, measuring between 1.85-2.01 mm in diameter, with a length of 6.64-7.14 mm, a width of 3.45-3.77 mm, and a thickness of 2.14-2.40 mm. This rice variety shows a lot of diversity in seed size, shape, and colour, even within a single variety or spike. These variations can be influenced by environmental factors, especially altitude. The best quality little chicken rice is grown at elevations between 700-1,100 meters.
One of the unique features of little chicken rice is the colour and shape of its husks, which vary and can be easily distinguished from one anoth-er. Despite these differences, all types of little chicken rice husks share a beautifully rounded shape. When steamed, the rice has a fragrant, sweet taste and a unique softness that sets it apart from other types of rice. [4]

Endemism in Xiengkhouang, Laos

Annamite Highlands and Xieng Khuang Plateau

Upland fields with crops
Rice paddy

Endemic

Not invasive

Not applicable

List III: General species

Food

Food: Little chicken rice is a traditional Lao sticky rice with a unique shape and remarkable size. It has a fragrance, a sweet taste and a unique softness that can make it different from other types of rice [4].

Domesticated

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Overview:
The area where rice is grown well is to lie in the range between 19th and 20th degree north latitude and between 103rd and 104th degree east longitude. Which has a height from sea level varying from 663 to 1,220 meters. Among them, small chicken rice collected from Xiengkhuang province is higher than 1,046 to 1,220 meters above sea level [6].
Temperature: The temperature will be hot from the time of planting to the time of rice breaking and will drop from the time of flowering of rice until the time of harvest. [6]
Rainfall: Usually, it rains during the rainy season (early September to mid-October). [6]
Air humidity: Starting from the flowering period, there will be more and more fog until the harvest period. [6]
Amount of sunlight: During the planting period to the flowering period, the amount of sunlight will be high. But from the flowering period to the harvest period, the amount of sunlight will decrease up to 40% due to long periods of fog every day or occasional rain.[6]

Planting techniques: For the planting of small chicken rice, seeding will begin on May and planting will start around June 1 to 2. Harvesting will commence around October 16 to 17. This rice can be planted in plains without high elevations, but the quality is lower, resulting in a softer taste and aroma. Different water levels, whether cold or nor-mal, also affect the quality. The cultivation methods for small chicken rice are similar across different localities. In some places, transplanting is done to produce seeds, in others to make powder, and in some areas, a single seedling is planted at the age of 15 days.[6]

Marketing:
• 65% of the small chicken rice produced in Huaphan province is sold, the rest is consumed by farmers' families.
• There are many traders and local traders who buy and sell small chicken rice within the province.
• The wholesale price of small chicken rice is 6,000-7,000 kip/kg, while the retail price is 8,000-10,000 kip per kg. [7]

Important source of carbohydrates

N/A

Nutrient	/100g	Remark
Proteins	N/A	N/A
Carbohydrates	N/A	N/A
Fats	N/A	N/A
Vitamins	N/A	N/A
Minerals	N/A	N/A
Fibers	N/A	N/A

Oryza sativa subsp. [1] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 9 January 2021 by: yolanfa. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/67766690. [Accessed: 14 October 2024]
Oryza sativa subsp from close up. [2] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 2 November 2020 by: agonzalo. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63984261. [Accessed: Accessed: 14 October 2024]
Oryza sativa subsp from afar. [3] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 6 October 2019 by: gab00229. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33959376. [Accessed: Accessed: 14 October 2024]

[4] J. VONGDALUK and K. THANAKONE, Registration Of The Origin Of Kao Kai Noy Rice In Xieng Khouang Province, Faculty of Law and Political Science Department of Business Law Academic Year 2019-2020
[5] Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF),[Online]. Available: https://www.gbif.org/species/2703459. [Accessed: 14 October 2024].
[6] C. BOUNPHANOUSAY, V. BOUNPHANOUSAY, K. KANYAVONG & P. In-THAPANYA., "Khao Kay Noi (“Small Chicken Rice”) is high grain quality confined to higher altitude," The Lao Journal of Agricul-ture and Forestry, No. 20, pp. 1-107, Dec 2009.
[7] Phakhaolao [Online] “Oryza sativa subsp’’; Available: https://www.phakhaolao.la/sites/default/files/public/publications/attachments/P14_HPH_KKN_A1_02.pdf. [Accessed: 15 October 2024].