Salt-tolerant rice varieties open up opportunities for developing a 'fragrant rice - clean shrimp' value chain.

In Ca Mau, the BL9 rice variety is rapidly expanding due to its salt tolerance, low susceptibility to pests and diseases, stable yield, and potential to become a brand for fragrant rice in the province.

Few pests and diseases, relatively high yield.

At the end of 2023, the BL9 rice variety from Ca Mau province was granted special approval for circulation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ). Immediately afterwards, the Provincial Agricultural Seed Center, in coordination with local authorities, put it into production and recorded positive results. Notably, BL9 rice has been developed by cooperatives in the area into a 3-star OCOP product, opening up opportunities for market expansion.

The introduction of the BL9 rice variety marks a significant turning point, signifying a new success for the agricultural sector of Ca Mau province. Photo: Trong Linh.

The BL9 fragrant rice variety was researched and bred by the Ca Mau Provincial Agricultural Seed Center from the combination of RVT and OM4900. It has a growth period of 100-105 days, a plant height of 95-105cm, 70-90 filled grains per panicle, and an average yield of 5.5-7 tons/ha. BL9 has good resistance to brown planthopper, blast, stem borer, bacterial blight, and excels in its ability to tolerate salinity up to 4‰.

Through numerous trial productions, BL9 has proven suitable for the province's ecological conditions, especially in shrimp-rice farming areas. Farmers highly appreciate its yield, quality, and potential for expanding production. Mr. Vo Duc Toan (Hong Dan commune) said: "The rice grows vigorously, with few pests and diseases, and notably, there has never been any blast disease. Yields in all seasons reach about 800 kg/acre."

Mr. Tran Vu Phong (Ca Mau Agricultural Seed Center) shares the characteristics of the BL9 rice variety. Photo: Trong Linh.

After being granted special approval for circulation, the production scale of BL9 rice increased rapidly to hundreds of hectares, reaching over 700 hectares in 2024 alone. Many farmers hope this will become a new key rice variety. Mr. Nguyen Van Truc (Ninh Quoi commune) shared: “This variety produces sticky, fragrant rice that lasts a long time. If it is recognized and developed into a fragrant rice brand of the province, farmers will benefit greatly.”

Currently, households and cooperatives producing BL9 rice have signed guaranteed purchase contracts with many businesses inside and outside the province, helping to stabilize output and increase confidence in the rice variety researched by the provincial agricultural sector.

Expanding the cultivation of BL9 rice variety in shrimp-rice farming areas.

To restructure the agricultural sector towards increased added value and sustainable development, Ca Mau province has implemented a pilot model of "Growing BL9 rice variety on shrimp farming land" in many cooperatives. The model has yielded positive results and is being replicated.

Since 2024, Thanh Son Cooperative (Vinh My commune) has been producing, milling, and trading BL9 rice. After achieving OCOP 3-star certification, the product has participated in many trade fairs, reaching a wide range of consumers.

Mr. Tran Van Ngo (left), Director of Thanh Son Cooperative, visits the BL9 rice seed production model. Photo: Trong Linh.

Mr. Tran Van Ngo, Director of Thanh Son Cooperative, said: “The BL9 rice of our cooperative is VietGAP certified, so the product is guaranteed to be of high quality and safe. We are actively promoting and expanding our market, aiming to build a brand of fragrant rice for the province.”

Mr. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province, emphasized: "Building a rice brand is an inevitable trend. The province will continue to expand the area of ​​BL9 rice, creating conditions for cooperatives to participate in production and develop products that meet safety and quality standards."

With its delicious aroma, good adaptability, and suitability for both domestic and export markets, BL9 is expected to become a signature rice brand of Ca Mau province. For the 2024-2025 rice-shrimp farming season, the province has allocated over 1,000 hectares for planting BL9 rice. This variety is salt-tolerant, highly adaptable to shrimp farming areas, and yields 6.5-7.5 tons/ha.

At Ba Dinh Cooperative (Vinh Loc commune), a pilot model covering 95 hectares with 57 participating households received 50% support for essential supplies such as BL9 rice seeds, organic fertilizer, and biological pesticides. Technical staff were assigned to monitor and guide farmers in applying seed-saving sowing techniques, IPM (integrated pest management), the "3 reductions, 3 increases" model, and limiting the use of chemical pesticides.

The final harvest results showed a profit of over 43 million VND/ha, approximately 8 million VND/ha higher than the control plot. Farmers evaluated BL9 as a fragrant variety, easy to cultivate, with good disease resistance, and suitable for shrimp-rice farming areas.

Ca Mau province is expanding the cultivation of BL9 rice variety on shrimp farming land. Photo: Trong Linh.

In 2025, the Ca Mau agricultural sector recommended that farmers in the shrimp-rice production area introduce BL9 rice variety into production on 4,600 hectares. Mr. Vo Duc Toan, Director of Hoa Phat Cooperative (Bien Bach commune), said that they have grown BL9 for four seasons in both brackish and freshwater areas, with yields consistently at 7 tons/ha or more. Mr. Toan said the cooperative has expanded the area for BL9 rice production to 50 hectares in 2025, including 20 hectares under organic farming to serve export markets.

Vinh Loc commune also aims to expand the BL9 rice variety production area to 200 hectares in 2025, while simultaneously developing BL9 rice products to meet OCOP standards, creating a foundation for building a fragrant rice brand for the province.

Mr. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, affirmed: "BL9 is very suitable for shrimp farming areas. The province will orient production towards organic processes, strengthen links with businesses, form large-scale fields and build raw material areas, and build a 'fragrant rice - clean shrimp' value chain that meets export standards."

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/giong-lua-thich-ung-man-mo-huong-phat-trien-chuoi-lua-thom--tom-sach-d784193.html