Mr. Nong Van Thach with the First Prize trophy for the best rice in the Mekong Delta, awarded to his BL9 rice. Photo: DUY KHOI
First of all, I'd like to share my joy with the farmers of Vinh Loc commune for winning first prize in the "Delicious Rice of the Mekong Delta" competition. That must have been a journey of meticulous effort, wouldn't you agree?
- Vinh Loc was originally a saline-alkaline land. But over the past few decades, the people here have overcome difficulties, reclaimed the land to grow rice and raise shrimp, achieving good results. Previously, Vinh Loc was famous for its Hong Dan red rice variety. The Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative has always aimed to find good rice varieties to serve the needs of rice-shrimp farming. In 2024, ST24 rice grown on Vinh Loc's rice-shrimp land was awarded the Mai An Tiem Prize by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, and is currently a 3-star OCOP product.
In 2024, the Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative received support in the form of the BL9 rice variety, researched and developed by the Bac Lieu Agricultural Seed Center (now the Ca Mau Agricultural Extension Center). BL9 was planted and guaranteed for purchase on a total area of 95 hectares. This rice variety is very suitable for the specific characteristics of the rice-shrimp farming land in Vinh Loc commune, developing well, with few pests and diseases, and yielding high productivity, from 700-750 kg per large plot. In particular, the rice was guaranteed for purchase at a price of up to approximately 9,000 VND/kg, which greatly pleased the farmers.
Sir, what's so appealing about rice made from BL9 premium rice?
- At the Mekong Delta Delicious Rice Competition, the judging panel evaluated the rice in two rounds: sensory evaluation of the raw rice grains and evaluation of the quality of the cooked rice. BL9 rice was highly rated for its whiteness, glossiness, uniformity, and very low percentage of chalky grains. Cooked BL9 rice has a fragrant aroma, the grains expand lengthwise, are slender, fluffy, and even. When eaten, the rice has a naturally sweet and lingering taste, a moderate stickiness, and the grains are soft but not sticky. BL9 rice is produced using a rice-shrimp farming model, with the use of organic fertilizers and biological pesticides, thus ensuring safety and health for consumers.
What is your assessment of the prospects of the BL9 rice variety in rice-shrimp farming areas?
- After two years of cultivation, BL9 rice has shown very clear adaptability. BL9 has a growth period of 100-105 days, a plant height of about 95-105cm, good resistance to pests and diseases, and a fairly high salt tolerance (about 4‰), making it suitable for the shrimp-rice farming area in Vinh Loc.
Currently, Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative and Tan Vuong Foodstuff Co., Ltd. ( An Giang ) have signed a cooperation agreement to produce organic rice in 2026, with certified quality and guaranteed purchase at a high price. In the near future, the cooperative will cultivate BL9 rice according to market demand, following clean, organic farming practices to increase product value. Building a brand based on transparency regarding origin and quality safety is identified by the cooperative as a competitive advantage.
The Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative is known to be one of the effective and exemplary collective economic models in developing agricultural production adapted to climate change, and has been recognized as a model at the provincial and national levels. Could you briefly introduce the cooperative?
- The Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative was established in 2018, initially with only 44 members, but has now grown to nearly 300 members, with a total area of 733 hectares of land cultivated under the rice-shrimp farming model. The cooperative provides 16 services, closely following the agricultural activities of farmers, such as breeding stock (shrimp, crab), agricultural supplies (fertilizer, pesticides, shrimp feed, etc.), and guaranteed purchase of shrimp output…
New-style cooperatives operate as a bridge between businesses, managers, scientists, and experts with farmers. Farmers in cooperatives can promptly access and grasp agricultural techniques, find markets for their agricultural products, shape agricultural models, avoid overlapping production, and thereby build and develop raw material areas that ensure quality. The cooperatives' efforts aim to help members produce according to established processes, sell their products at stable prices, and improve their quality of life.
Rice field BL9, following the rice-shrimp farming model in Vinh Loc. Photo: DUY KHOI
As a young farmer born in 1989, and formerly the Chief of the People's Committee Office of the commune, what led you to become involved with the cooperative and the shrimp and rice farming of your homeland?
- I originally studied Fisheries and worked in my hometown under the province's human resource attraction program. After a period of working there, due to family circumstances, I quit my job and started a business selling agricultural supplies, growing rice, and raising shrimp. Since 2019, with the encouragement of local leaders, I have been the Director of the Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative until now.
I was born and raised in a farming family, with generations connected to the land, so I have a special affection for agriculture. However, I'm concerned that agricultural products from the rice-shrimp farming model are so good, high-quality, and safe, yet their value is low. I think the problem is applying science and technology in the context of adapting to climate change, especially by linking and understanding market demands. How can we ensure farmers buy products at the lowest possible price and sell their produce at the highest possible price? To this day, I and the members of the cooperative still pursue this principle.
As a young farmer, what are the advantages and disadvantages for you?
- I think the advantages are fundamental. Young people, with their advantage in grasping technology, will have better access to science and technology, boldly experiment, innovate, and adapt to modern agricultural models and techniques. In the cooperative, there are many other people my age, all with college or university degrees, and who share the same determination to start their own businesses right in their hometown.
Given the trend of young people starting businesses right in their hometowns, have you thought about keeping young people in their hometowns, instead of the "leaving agriculture and their hometowns" that many people are currently worried about?
- I think this is not an easy task, especially in today's market economy. For us, particularly within the cooperative model, guiding the younger generation towards entrepreneurship is a long journey, something that cannot be accomplished overnight. Young people are the next generation, so if we want to keep them involved, we must help them see real opportunities.
We focus on breaking down startup models into smaller, localized models, organized into groups, and especially closely linked to product output. By enhancing the value of agricultural products through organic and biological methods, even with higher prices, they will still have a place in the market. From traditional shrimp and rice farming, cooperatives are diversifying services and products, creating differentiation and avoiding duplication. When young people see a clear direction, stable income, and a promising future, they will have a reason to stay and start businesses on their homeland.
Thank you!
DANG HUYNH (Compiled)
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/bl9-hanh-trinh-tu-dong-dat-lua-tom-den-hat-gao-ngon-nhat-dong-bang-a203931.html
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