DTO - In the fertile land of My Thanh commune, a 50-hectare rice field is growing green in the summer-autumn crop of 2025. What is special is that farmers here cultivate rice using methods of reducing seeds, using less fertilizer, less pesticides, saving water and minimizing emissions. This is one of many fields that are piloting the Project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" (abbreviated as the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice) in the province.
The project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region" was first implemented at My Thanh Bac Agricultural Service Cooperative (My Thanh commune).
Double benefits from reducing seeds and saving water.
Step by step realizing modern and sustainable agriculture, by 2025, Dong Thap province has set a goal of striving for the whole province to reach 75,000 hectares of rice to participate in the Sustainable Development Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice. Up to now, the whole province has over 58,000 hectares of rice area deployed according to the project. These are not only statistically significant numbers but also vivid evidence of a strong transformation in rice cultivation of Dong Thap farmers.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, one of 39 households participating in the model at My Thanh Bac Agricultural Service Cooperative (My Thanh commune) shared: “Participating in the model, I was instructed by agricultural officials to reduce the amount of rice seeds sown from 10 kg/cong to 8 kg/cong. At first, the rice was sparse, I was very worried, but now after more than 30 days, the rice has bloomed close to the field, the bushes are big, the roots are strong, the leaves are green, it looks very pleasing. I like the farming techniques of this model, because it not only reduces costs, reduces pests and diseases, but also helps reduce emissions to leave a future for our children and grandchildren.” For many farmers here, satisfaction is not only in economic efficiency but also in the ethical value of farming while still protecting the living environment.
The 1 million hectare high-quality rice project is not just a simple output or area target. The model aims to change farming methods to reduce seeds, reduce fertilizer, save water, spray less pesticides, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing costs and increasing income for farmers.
Mr. Nguyen Van Viet - Director of My Thanh Bac Agricultural Service Cooperative said: "Farmers here are familiar with the sustainable rice production model thanks to previous programs like VnSAT. Previously, people sowed 15 - 17 kg of seeds/cong, now it is 8 kg/cong. At first, everyone was worried about the sparse rice, but now seeing the bushes blooming, the roots strong, the plants strong, everyone is excited."
With these positive signals, many farmers are willing to continue to maintain the model, considering it a long-term farming orientation. However, in reality, the implementation also faces many obstacles. Due to the terrain of rice fields intercropped with fruit trees, it is difficult to bring machinery such as straw balers or transportation equipment out of the fields. Some farmers have requested that the relevant authorities soon have solutions to support the collection and transportation stages, creating more favorable conditions for sustainable production.
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) supports My Thanh Bac Agricultural Service Cooperative (My Thanh commune) to install sensor devices (spots) to monitor the water surface throughout the crop season to review the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during rice cultivation.
Farmers go hand in hand with technology
As one of the provinces proactively implementing the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project, Dong Thap does not stop at encouraging people to change their farming practices, the province's specialized sector also promotes the application of high technology and smart sensor equipment in field management.
With support from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 15 sensors (spots) were installed in a 50ha model in My Thanh commune to monitor the water surface throughout the crop season. Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - IRRI consultant shared: "We monitor the number of times water is drained, calculate emissions to control the highest efficiency. Thanks to that, the rice plants are less likely to fall over compared to the old farming method, reducing losses during harvest".
In planning, Dong Thap identified expanding rice cultivation area as an inevitable task. The implementation of a two-level local government helps the province have more conditions to control and coordinate production. Currently, the whole province has more than 243,000 hectares of rice land - this is considered an ideal space to quickly achieve and exceed the target of 75,000 hectares by 2025.
However, according to Mr. Le Van Chan - Deputy Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Dong Thap province, this is also a big challenge. "Each region has different soil characteristics and farming habits. We will deploy 21 more models to evaluate suitability for each locality. At the same time, we will attach sensors, convert digitally, monitor water regulation to effectively replicate" - Mr. Le Van Chan shared.
From the first rice fields in My Thanh commune, to tens of thousands of hectares gradually transforming towards a “green” direction, Dong Thap is proving that: Agricultural development cannot rely solely on output but must go hand in hand with sustainable development.
The 1 million hectare high-quality rice project is not just a plan but a long-term commitment to a modern, environmentally friendly and climate-resilient agriculture. When cooperatives play their role in making people understand and trust them, and the government takes strong action, each field is not only a place for cultivation but also a place to “sow the seeds” to build a green agriculture of the future.
MY LY
Source: https://baodongthap.vn/nong-nghiep/dong-thap-tiep-tuc-mo-rong-dien-tich-de-an-1-trieu-hacta-lua-chat-luong-cao-phat-thai-thap--133087.aspx
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