Straw rolling - an effective way to utilize agricultural waste

Straw rolls used to compost dragon fruit roots.

Present at Cha Vau field, Bac Binh commune these days, we witnessed the image of golden ripe rice fields being harvested by farmers. Wherever the harvester goes, the straw rolling machine also operates at full capacity to create each round roll. The straw rolls are of uniform size, easy to transport, preserve and use.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai - a farmer in Binh Duc village, Bac Binh commune has 5 sao of rice being harvested. According to her, each hectare of rice field after harvest can collect 1 - 1.5 tons of straw, equivalent to 15 - 20 rolls. Previously, the selling price of rolled straw fluctuated from 23,000 - 30,000 VND/roll, many households also bought straw to compost dragon fruit roots. However, due to the large area of dragon fruit currently being destroyed, demand has decreased sharply. Currently, the price of rolled straw is only about 16,000 VND/roll. However, rolling straw still brings practical benefits such as: keeping the fields clean, limiting dust and smoke from burning straw. Some places also use rolled straw in agricultural tourism, decoration, contributing to creating more cultural and economic value.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province, the total rice growing area in the southeastern region of the province is more than 100,000 hectares, with an output of 650,000 tons/year. In the summer-autumn crop of 2025 alone, localities in the region produced over 46,000 hectares of rice. At this time, farmers are in the peak harvest season, with an average yield of 60.5 quintals/ha. In Bac Binh commune alone, the rice growing area accounts for the majority, and the total herd of livestock and poultry increases every year. Therefore, after harvesting rice, farmers have taken advantage of available raw materials, using rolled straw as food and bedding for livestock such as cows, buffaloes, and goats. At the same time, straw is also used to cover the base of crops, keep the soil moist, limit weeds and improve soil fertility or as organic compost, which is environmentally friendly and saves investment costs for farmers. In addition, steps such as collecting and transporting straw… create more seasonal jobs for rural workers. The use of rolled straw helps to minimize negative impacts on the environment, protect public health and move towards a circular, green - clean - sustainable agriculture.

It is known that the agricultural sector currently recommends that farmers should not burn straw after harvesting rice to avoid the risk of spreading fires and environmental pollution. However, due to old habits, some farmers still do not do this and directly burn straw in the fields, causing smoke and dust.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/cuon-rom-cach-tan-dung-phe-pham-nong-nghiep-hieu-qua-388291.html