Intercropping different rice varieties can help reduce blast diseases, leading to better disease control and higher yields with less need for fungicides. In a two-year study with 47 rice varieties, intercropping traditional and modern varieties together significantly decreased blast disease occurrence compared to growing them separately. Traditional varieties showed a greater reduction in disease incidence and severity in intercropping plots than modern varieties. The variation in disease occurrence was also lower in intercropping plots, indicating a more consistent disease control method.