With microorganisms in the field, the rice plants turn "green" again after the harvest.

In the context of rice production facing pressure from climate change and rising input costs, the model of treating rice straw with microbial preparations directly in the field, implemented by the Global Alliance for Health and Pollution (GAHP) in collaboration with the Vietnam Association for Nature and Environment Protection (VACNE) in An Truong commune (Vinh Long province), is creating a noticeable change: the soil is free from organic toxicity, rice plants are healthier, pests and diseases are reduced, input costs are saved, and farmers' income is increased…

From struggling with organic poisoning, pests, and unstable yields, many households have reported healthier soil, stronger rice growth, reduced input costs, and improved economic efficiency.

The benefits are immediately visible in the fields.

Mr. Duong Van Cao, Head of the Farmers' Association in An Thanh hamlet (An Truong commune), is one of the households that participated in the model from the beginning. Previously, people in the hamlet often faced the situation of "bumper harvest but low prices - poor harvest resulting in total loss," especially when the harvest coincided with heavy rains or flooding. Straw after harvest is usually used as feed for buffaloes and cows, but when heavy rains occur, the straw that is still drying becomes damp and has to be buried in the ground, potentially causing organic poisoning, leading to yellowing leaves in rice plants, poor growth, and increased fertilizer requirements.

Mr. Duong Van Cao - Head of the Farmers' Association in An Thanh Hamlet (An Truong, Vinh Long )

Given the aforementioned shortcomings, including the high cost of straw processing and the need for a new crop, or unstable yields leading to income shortfalls for farmers, Mr. Cao stated that after being encouraged to participate in the model, he and 56 other households in the hamlet have begun using the microbial straw treatment product from Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTT University) in their fields.

Initially, farmers were unfamiliar with the product, even "not knowing how to mix it correctly," because the product was too concentrated and difficult to spray with a machine. However, after the NTT University adjusted the formula to be more diluted while maintaining the same nutrient content, farmers began to see clear results after several seasons of use, such as: crop yields reaching 60-70%, significantly reducing the incidence of wild rice and mixed rice; fewer pest attacks thanks to the balanced soil microbiome; a significant reduction in the amount of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, leading to a sharp decrease in costs; and looser soil, eliminating organic poisoning after burying straw.

Rice plants "turn green again" after using microorganisms in the fields of An Truong commune, Vinh Long province.

"In the old days, if the straw was flooded, it was game over, and we had to use a lot of fertilizer for the next crop. Now, with the use of microorganisms, the soil is noticeably healthier, the rice plants are growing evenly, and costs are reduced. The farmers are very happy!" - Mr. Cao shared.

"Effective by up to 70%, reducing costs by several tens of percent."

Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, also a farmer in An Thanh hamlet, said that the rice crop after using microorganisms could be assessed as achieving 70% effectiveness. The change that impressed him most was: better water retention; looser soil, stronger roots, and uniformly standing rice plants; and a significant reduction in wild rice, something many farmers considered a "nightmare" and a constant worry.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, a farmer from An Truong commune (Vinh Long province), is applying a model using microorganisms from GAHP and VACNE.

Compared to the previous use of chemical fertilizers, Mr. Tu said that costs have "reduced by several tens of percent," while yields have not decreased but have become more stable. Recognizing the significant improvement in efficiency from previous rice crops before using the microbial product, saving more on input costs, and being cheaper than buying chemical fertilizers and pesticides, people in the hamlet are increasingly trusting and actively using the microbial product for their rice fields, and spreading the model to neighboring fields.

Mr. Tran Van Phong, Head of An Thanh Hamlet Committee (An Truong), emphasized the effectiveness of using microorganisms.

From the perspective of production organization, Mr. Tran Van Phong, Head of An Thanh Hamlet (An Truong), sees this as a shift not only in technique but also in the farming mindset of farmers. Mr. Phong said that previously, most households sowed rice densely because they used a lot of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to "protect the fields," leading to soil degradation, waterlogging, easy rice blast disease, and unstable yields. For many years, the "everyone for themselves" approach, with sowing at the wrong times, also hindered harvesting and resulted in unstable selling prices.

When the "One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice" program was implemented, with technical support from GAHP - VACNE and partner organizations, the area applying the program in Vinh Long quickly reached 26-27 hectares, then expanded to 50 hectares with support for seeds and products from the State and businesses.

"The most important thing is that farmers see the results with their own eyes, they see healthier rice plants, less soil pollution, less fertilizer, and less pesticide use. That's what's truly convincing. No matter how good the words are, if they don't see results, farmers won't follow," Mr. Phong emphasized.

The effectiveness of using microorganisms for rice cultivation and straw treatment is clearly demonstrated.

At the same time, he also noted that the effects of using microorganisms only become apparent after 2-3 seasons or more. However, the villagers unanimously agreed that this is a sustainable approach, suitable for reducing emissions, protecting the environment, and improving the quality of rice grains.

From small-scale models to scalable applications.

The model of using microorganisms in An Truong commune shows that this is not just a technical pilot project, but a program to change farming mindsets, with close collaboration from GAHP and VACNE. These two units play the role of: monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of each crop; training farmers on circular agriculture and emission reduction; connecting farmers, scientists, and businesses supplying microbial products, etc.

The GAHP - VACNE project collaborates with Nguyen Tat Thanh University in bringing microbial products to farmers.

Thanks to this support, farmers, who were previously accustomed to chemicals and old farming methods, are now confidently making the transition. The model not only addresses the problem of straw after harvest but also builds a rice production ecosystem: less dependent on chemicals; utilizes by-products; reduces environmental pollution; and increases the resilience of the soil and crops. This is also a core requirement of the circular agriculture and green agriculture strategy that Vietnam is pursuing.

Currently, the model implemented in An Truong commune has completely eliminated rice straw, removing the traditional practice of burning straw which causes air pollution and harms health. The people are delighted to see clean fields, loose soil, uniform rice crops, and reduced pest and disease problems.

This trust has spread to neighboring hamlets and communes. Local leaders also stated that the model can be scaled up when sufficient supplies of products and technical support packages are available from GAHP, VACNE, and businesses. In the context of the need for sustainable rice production, reduced emissions, and meeting higher export standards, models like An Truong commune are the first "building blocks" for constructing a higher-quality, greener, and cleaner agricultural system.

PV