Visiting high quality rice model in A Luoi

Growing new quality rice is not difficult

Ms. Kan Nhu in Quang Nham commune was excited, the people of Quang Nham mountainous area have never had such a good harvest like this summer-autumn crop. The people were supported by the State with fertilizers and high-quality rice varieties for planting, not only creating high-yield products but also good quality products. The rice was cooked and tasted very delicious, soft and sticky. After harvest, traders came to the fields to buy fresh rice at over 7,000 VND/kg, while sun-dried rice cost nearly 9,000 VND/kg.

Talking about the production process, Ms. Kan Nhu said that the techniques for planting and caring for HN6 rice are not much different from other rice varieties. During the production process, farmers are also guided by agricultural extension officers with the motto "hands on". At first, they were confused, but later, they realized that producing new high-quality rice like HN6 is quite easy. The rice grows very quickly, blooms early, and the growth period is shortened to the maximum so that it can be harvested in time before the rainy season.

Deputy Director of the provincial Center for Agricultural Research, Mr. Phan Anh informed that in recent years, the Center for Agricultural Research has implemented many new rice cultivation models such as applying the "three reductions, three increases" cultivation method (including IPM) on rice plants. The model applies new rice varieties with potential for productivity and quality such as HN6, DT100, JO2, HG12... contributing to improving the productivity and quality of rice in A Luoi. These rice varieties are adapted to the land and climate of A Luoi, are highly resistant to pests and diseases, have low risk of infection with rice blast disease and produce delicious, fragrant rice products that are easy to consume.

In the 2024 summer-autumn crop, the Center for Research and Development will continue to build a high-quality rice growing model in two communes of Quang Nham and Son Thuy with an area of ​​15 hectares. Of which, the HN6 variety will be planted in Quang Nham commune and HG244 will be planted in Son Thuy commune. The goal of the model is to help rice farmers in A Luoi change their awareness, habits and rice production techniques, creating a shift from manual production methods to new production methods with synchronous application of intensive technical advances. Thereby shortening the growth time of rice plants in A Luoi district, in accordance with the general crop calendar of the province, ensuring that the harvest is basically completed before the rainy season, limiting damage.

Changing production practices

Through the model, agricultural extension officers trained and introduced to farmers the characteristics of HG244 and HN6 rice varieties, and the technical production process. A Luoi farmers were able to participate in discussions on local production conditions and farming practices. On that basis, they adjusted the process accordingly to maximize available potentials, overcome existing problems and difficulties to ensure good rice growth, productivity and quality. Early rains affected some newly sown rice areas, killing seeds and causing uneven rice growth. However, people actively fertilized, pruned early, and fertilized promptly, so the rice plants grew and developed well.

Mr. Phan Anh assessed that this summer-autumn crop, Son Thuy commune has focused on prioritizing water resources for the model implementation area, providing enough water for land preparation, sowing and favorable rice growth. In Quang Nham commune, there is an irrigation system, the water source flows by itself and the pump is active, but due to the sloping terrain, there is a situation where water cannot meet the demand. At the beginning of the crop, when the upstream is blocked, there is no water in the fields below, causing drought. At the end of the crop, the lower areas are flooded and cannot be drained for harvest.

In general, farmers participating in the model have performed well in all stages of work according to the instructions of technical staff, creating conditions for rice plants to grow and develop well. Farmers have performed well from the stage of soaking seeds properly to fertilizing at the right time, pruning in time, cleaning the fields, removing weeds, preventing pests and diseases according to instructions... From the results of the models, it can be affirmed that the rice varieties HG244 and HN6 are suitable for sowing in the summer-autumn crop in A Luoi, ensuring factors of growth time and yield. These rice varieties have a longer growing time than when sown in the plains from 7-10 days.

To fully exploit the available local capabilities and improve economic efficiency for rice growers, A Luoi district and other localities and sectors need to have support policies to improve the level and production skills of the people. In particular, promoting the application of scientific and technical advances in production such as applying new rice varieties with potential for productivity and quality, with short growing periods, suitable for local farming conditions. Localities should promote, mobilize, and change small-scale production habits to cooperation and association in production, aiming to build concentrated, contiguous areas using the same rice varieties with similar growing periods, and increase mechanization in production.

Article and photos: Hoang The