Le Thi Trung Nhi in the rice field, where the rice plants are thriving thanks to her own care.

Beyond the long, winding Pê Ke pass lies the former Hồng Thủy commune, a particularly challenging border area. Relying on slash-and-burn agriculture, most ethnic minority people make their living from rice, corn, cassava, etc., and life remains full of hardships.

Also making a living through farming, Le Thi Trung Nhi understands the difficulties of her locality very well. This young Pa Co woman is always concerned about how to develop the economy and increase income. After much thought and consideration, Nhi boldly introduced Ra Du rice – a precious rice variety from A Luoi, which is only suitable for hilly areas – to be grown in paddy fields.

Ra Du rice is a specialty of the A Luoi highlands, fragrant and delicious, considered "sacred rice," a precious rice associated with many rituals dedicated to the spirits. Despite its rarity, few people are interested in it now because Ra Du rice has low yields and is prone to crop failure. Furthermore, due to its growth characteristics, only newly reclaimed hilly areas yield high productivity; yields decrease over time.

“Initially, wanting to contribute to preserving the precious rice variety of the local people, I always set aside a portion of my farmland to grow Ra Du rice. From 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters), I expanded to 5 sao. Later, realizing the high economic value of Ra Du rice, which sells for three or four times the price of regular rice, I decided to expand production,” Nhi shared.

In 2020, a young Pa Co woman decided to transplant the Ra Du rice variety from the upland fields to the paddy fields. She and her husband hired an excavator to dig the land for the fields, then brought in water. Ra Du grown in the upland fields starts in May and is harvested in October. The rice plants have to withstand the summer drought and the autumn floods. Ra Du grown in the paddy fields, however, can be harvested from January to April.

“Ra Du rice grown in flooded rice paddies yields 8-10 bags per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), while upland rice only yields about 5-6 bags per sao. Not to mention that upland rice takes 4-5 months to grow, while growing Ra Du in flooded rice paddies only takes about 3 months. Each kilogram of Ra Du rice sells for 50,000-60,000 VND, sometimes even more,” Nhi excitedly stated. With these promising results, Nhi plans to expand the area of ​​Ra Du rice grown in flooded rice paddies in the near future.

As a pioneer in Hong Thuy (formerly) in cultivating Ra Du rice in flooded rice paddies, Nhi couldn't avoid the concerns of her neighbors. "Even my mother-in-law worried, saying, 'Be careful, all our hard work might be wasted,'" Nhi recounted. However, with dedication and effort, the young woman reaped the rewards. Nhi's joy multiplied when many families in the area also started growing Ra Du rice in flooded rice paddies to increase their income.

In the past, selling rice was difficult, but now, thanks to links with agricultural cooperatives and guaranteed sales, rice growers in Ra Du are very enthusiastic. Trung Nhi also regularly brings Ra Du rice to agricultural product fairs as a sales channel.

The Pa Co girl smiled and revealed that although she had graduated from university, Nhi still felt a connection to farming. "Some people say that studying is a waste of money and effort, and that it's just a waste of time and money. But for me, thanks to my education, my mindset has changed, and I know how to farm more effectively. Most importantly, I've found joy and hope right here in my hometown's fields, from preserving and developing precious rice varieties as a way to develop the economy, spread the spirit of self-reliance, and preserve the cultural identity of the highlands," Nhi expressed.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Doi, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hong Thuy commune (formerly) (now Mr. Doi is an official of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of A Luoi 1 commune), Le Thi Trung Nhi is an exemplary figure who spreads the spirit of diligence and creativity in labor and production, motivating people in remote border areas to overcome difficulties and strive harder in economic development.

Text and photos: Ha Le

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/dua-lua-ra-du-xuong-ruong-nuoc-156274.html