Varieties Revolution: [Part 1] TBR97 - A New Boost for Tay Ninh Rice

Rice has been associated with Tay Ninh farmers for many generations, thanks to mastering the TBR97 variety and advanced farming processes that help people master their livelihoods and sustainably reduce poverty.

Outstanding advantages

In the process of restructuring agriculture , knowledge and technology are becoming the most important “capital” of farmers. By mastering varieties, cultivation processes and technology, farmers not only increase productivity but also proactively reduce costs, improve quality and stabilize output. In Tay Ninh, along with the TBR97 rice variety, farmers’ access to market information, techniques and diseases is becoming the “key” to making effective production decisions in the context of increasingly risky agriculture, helping many households become well-off, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction right from the field.

TBR97 rice variety in Tay Ninh land. Photo: Tran Trung.

These days, in the fields of Truong Mit commune, Tay Ninh province, combine harvesters are working continuously to harvest the crop. On the banks of the fields, people are busy transporting rice to the collection point, making the harvest atmosphere even more bustling. If in the past, farmers were always worried about pests and diseases, now, with the appearance of the TBR97 rice variety, people can be somewhat more assured when witnessing the rice fields growing healthily, standing firm against adverse weather conditions and giving high yields.

According to ThaiBinh Seed engineers, the TBR97 rice variety is bred in a '3 in 1' direction: strong plants, short growth and high yield. The growing period of 95-100 days helps farmers to be proactive in the crop. The variety is resistant to pests and diseases, cost-effective, and suitable for many ecological regions. In fact, the yield reaches 8-9 tons/ha, with a high proportion of whole rice, bright grains, and sticky rice, meeting consumer tastes well.

With the support of enterprises, farmers in Tay Ninh have gradually mastered the process of producing new varieties. Mr. Pham Minh Cuong in Phuoc Binh commune said that TBR97 rice variety is less likely to be flat than traditional varieties such as OM4900, OM5451 or OM6976, and pests also appear less often. Although it is only the first crop, he predicts that the yield can reach about 7-9 tons/ha, 1-2 tons/ha higher than the OM variety.

Tay Ninh farmers give positive reviews after a period of cultivating TBR97 rice variety. Photo: Tran Trung.

In Truong Mit commune, Mr. Nguyen Van Con, a member of the Rice Production Cooperative Group in Hamlet 5, Truong Mit commune, acknowledged that the TBR97 rice variety has good yields, strong plants, and requires little fertilizer and care. In the context of high prices of agricultural materials, this is an important factor helping people reduce cost pressure.

Mr. Phan Nu, Head of the Cooperative Group in Hamlet 5, said that in addition to good varieties, the role of the cooperative group in providing technical guidance and standardizing production processes is an important factor in helping farmers effectively exploit TBR97. “The cooperative group is not only a place for farmers to gather but also plays the role of a focal point for organizing production and an information connection center. Through the group, farmers are promptly updated on weather developments, pests, market prices and technical recommendations; thereby proactively adjusting the crop calendar, seed quantity, fertilizers and pesticides. The group directly selects and supplies TBR97 varieties, 'holds hands and guides' in each technical step, supervises the process and links consumption, helping farmers feel secure in production and stabilize output. The group currently produces about 30 hectares of TBR97 rice and will expand to more than 50 hectares in the near future,” Mr. Phan Nu emphasized.

Sustainable rice production platform

On the business side, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phong, assistant to the Chairman of ThaiBinh Seed Group, said that the TBR97 rice variety is the Group's new flagship variety deployed in the Southern region, in which Tay Ninh is an important location thanks to its diverse climate conditions and large rice production area. Through actual deployment, the variety has shown many outstanding characteristics such as strong plants, resistance to pests and diseases and high productivity, in line with the State's orientation for sustainable agricultural development.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phong (right cover) and the company's engineering team surveyed the TBR97 rice variety in Tay Ninh. Photo: Tran Trung.

ThaiBinh Seed has closely coordinated with local authorities and cooperatives to build pilot models, linking traders to create stable output for farmers, and at the same time promoting communication for people to visit and evaluate actual effectiveness.

“The company sends a team of engineers to the fields to accompany farmers, instructing technical staff and people to comply with the production process, especially reducing the amount of seeds sown to 100 - 120 kg/ha and focusing on pest control as recommended. Currently, the area of ​​TBR97 rice variety in the South has expanded rapidly from 3,000 to 5,000 ha in a short time, we expect to increase to over 20,000 ha in the near future," Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phong shared.

According to Mr. Ha Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of Tay Ninh Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, the whole province currently has more than 600,000 hectares of rice cultivation, leading the Southeast region. In the direction of sustainable development, the province has been implementing many solutions to improve productivity, quality and reduce emissions in rice production. Restructuring varieties is becoming an urgent need, in which varieties that adapt to climate change, are resistant to pests and reduce emissions are given top priority in accordance with the Government 's orientation.

Through the field workshop, Tay Ninh Agricultural Extension Center will replicate the model and transfer the TBR97 rice variety on a large scale in the coming time. Photo: Tran Trung.

Along with the new varieties, the Agricultural Extension Center guides farmers to apply the process of “1 must, 6 reductions”, reducing the amount of seeds sown, increasing sparse sowing, and encouraging field diaries to monitor weather, crop growth, and early forecasting of pests and diseases. Thereby, farmers not only farm based on experience, but also gradually produce based on information and data, improving efficiency and sustainability.

“The TBR97 rice variety helps farmers reduce costs, increase productivity, increase income and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction. Based on the initial results, the Center will continue to replicate the model through field workshops and large-scale technology transfer,” Mr. Ha Thanh Tung emphasized.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/cach-mang-giong-bai-1-tbr97-cu-hich-moi-cho-lua-tay-ninh-d787324.html