'Green Journey - Healthy Soil, Healthy Crops' for Emission-Reducing Rice Cultivation

An Giang Program 'Green Journey - Healthy Soil, Healthy Crops', promotes smart rice cultivation, reduces emissions, towards the Project of 1 million hectares of sustainable high-quality rice.

The green journey begins from the border fields

On November 17, at Phu Nong Xanh Cooperative (Vinh Dieu commune, An Giang province), Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company in collaboration with An Giang Provincial Agricultural Extension Center officially launched the program "Green Journey - Healthy soil, healthy plants". The event attracted more than 250 farmers along with agricultural and environmental managers and scientific experts in the context of the rice industry facing many challenges regarding land and emissions.

“Green Journey - Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants” organized by Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company in An Giang , attracted a large number of farmers and technical staff to attend. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

An Giang, one of the largest rice-producing provinces in the Mekong Delta, is also the province chosen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as the starting point for the Project "Sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030". This is not only a large production area, but also a pioneer in implementing the Smart Rice Cultivation Program to adapt to climate change, launched by Binh Dien since 2016.

Mr. Ngo Van Dong, General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company emphasized: An Giang is not only the "rice capital" of the country but also a pioneering locality accompanying Binh Dien in testing new products and new processes. Starting from here, Binh Dien wishes to spread the program with the goal of "greening rice production", for an ecological and sustainable agriculture with low emissions.

It can be said that the Mekong Delta contributes more than 50% of the country's rice output and 90% of its rice exports. However, after decades of intensive farming, the health of rice fields is seriously declining. Intensive farming, increased cropping, limited organic matter, reduced alluvium, combined with the impact of climate change, rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, makes the soil acidic, poor in organic matter, and low in absorption capacity.

Notably, rice production in the Mekong Delta accounts for more than 50% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the agricultural sector, mainly methane (CH4) from flooded fields. Therefore, the requirement to reduce emissions, improve soil fertility, and increase farming efficiency has become urgent, in line with the Government's orientation in the Project on 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice.

Mr. Ngo Van Dong, General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, said that the green journey is not only a program but also a long-term strategic commitment of Binh Dien in accompanying farmers and the Government to implement the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Bao Ve, an agricultural expert, vividly explained the current soil problems that the Mekong Delta has four common “diseases” on rice fields. Currently, rice fields in the Mekong Delta have four common “diseases” such as: Pyrite toxicity (alum-forming material) formed from iron in alluvium combined with sulfur from the seawater in the past. When exposed to oxygen, this layer of material transforms into harmful toxins.

Organic acid toxicity appears when the soil accumulates un-decomposed organic matter. Chronic toxicity will limit root growth and affect the ability to absorb nutrients. Phenol accumulation will make the rice "skinny" and yellow.

Professor Nguyen Bao Ve further analyzed that the Mekong Delta has recently encountered an imbalance in the calcium/magnesium ratio. Calcium is very important for soil health. The rice soil is thin, and the plow base layer is close to the ground, making it difficult for rice roots to penetrate deeply. These are factors that make the soil easily acidic, toxic, and depleted.

To restore the soil, he proposed comprehensive prevention and treatment solutions such as: Suppressing alum with water, maintaining reasonable flooding so that alum-producing materials are not oxidized. First, soak the soil for 2 weeks after tilling, helping the pH increase from 4-5 to nearly 6. Digging trenches - washing alum: the drainage ditch system helps wash away toxins. Adding biological calcium to support acidification and improve soil structure.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Bao Ve, an agricultural expert, shares solutions to improve soil and increase plant health through the use of new technology fertilizers from Binh Dien. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Bao Ve, Binh Dien's inclusion of Bio-Calcium in the program is a suitable direction according to the results of practical research in the Mekong Delta. "Green Journey" is a scientific solution towards 1 million hectares of high-quality rice. At the same time, this is the program "Green Journey - Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants" built by Binh Dien based on many years of success from the smart rice farming model, adapting to climate change. The philosophy of the program includes 5 linked factors: Healthy soil, green fertilizer, green process - healthy plants, green products and green consumption. This is the scientific foundation to help reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers, reduce the number of fertilizations, reduce emissions from rice fields, completely in line with the requirements of the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, low emissions.

Rice production in the Mekong Delta accounts for more than 50% of total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, mainly methane (CH4) from flooded fields. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Widespread deployment to create spillovers using real-life models

According to Mr. Ngo Van Dong, in the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, the program will organize at least 50 workshops in the Mekong Delta and the rice-growing regions of the East, Central, and Central Highlands, with the goal of reaching 5,000 farmers. The next phase will expand to the northern rice regions.

In particular, each workshop will select typical farmers to build demonstration models. The resulting models will become practical success stories that are easy for people to access and apply.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta use straw to make organic fertilizer for the soil. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

In addition, accompanying farmers are advised on smart rice cultivation processes to reduce emissions. They will be given Bio-Calcium Buffalo Head for 1 hectare of rice, receive priority points on the "Smart Farming" application, and participate in lucky draws and many other digital agricultural extension activities.

General Director Ngo Van Dong affirmed that the green journey is not just a program but a long-term strategic commitment of Binh Dien in accompanying farmers and the Government to implement the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice. Furthermore, it is participating in the project of reducing emissions in the crop production sector in the period 2025-2035.

“The program will only be successful with the joint participation of localities, the agricultural extension system, scientists and especially the farmers themselves, who are the central subjects of the 'greening journey' of production,” Mr. Dong emphasized.

Binh Dien's inclusion of Bio-Calcium in the program is a suitable direction according to the results of practical research in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thanh, Deputy Director of the An Giang Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, said: The program "Green Journey - Healthy Land, Healthy Plants" started by Phu Nong Xanh Cooperative in the Southwestern border region lays the foundation for green transformation in the Mekong Delta. Phu Nong Xanh Cooperative was chosen as the starting point thanks to its success in applying the smart rice model in recent times. This is a clear demonstration of the ability to apply science and technology to farming, from water and straw management to reducing chemical fertilizers and balancing nutrition.

With the support of experts, the "Green Journey" program is expected to open a new phase for An Giang's rice industry to increase productivity, quality, low emissions, long-term sustainability, contributing to the green growth target in the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hanh-trinh-xanh--dat-khoe-cay-trong-khoe-de-canh-tac-lua-giam-phat-thai-d784694.html