Ca Mau's specialty rice is finding its way to the international market.

Tài Nguyên is a local specialty rice variety of Ca Mau province, grown in communes such as Vinh Loi, Chau Thoi, Hung Hoi, etc., thanks to suitable soil conditions.

Although consumed domestically, Tài Nguyên rice yields significantly higher economic returns compared to many other rice varieties that meet export standards.

Tài Nguyên rice is primarily cultivated through transplanting.

Since the Lunar New Year of the Horse, farmers in the Tài Nguyên rice-growing region of Ca Mau province have begun harvesting. High yields have brought joy to the farmers. Furthermore, the first-ever contract signed by a business to purchase Tài Nguyên rice for export to the United States opens up new opportunities to increase the value of this specialty rice variety.

In the fields of Tra Ban 2 hamlet, Vinh Loi commune, Ca Mau province, the atmosphere is bustling with activity these days. Under the scorching sun of the dry season, the sounds of combine harvesters and rice transporters fill the fields. Mr. Tu Van Dan, who just harvested 20 acres of his Tai Nguyen rice crop, happily shared: "Although the early season was affected by high tides and deep flooding, causing many obstacles to planting, thanks to proactive care and close monitoring of the fields, the rice crop achieved a high yield. With a price of 8,200 VND/kg, after deducting investment costs, each acre yielded a profit of 4.5 million VND. For farmers, achieving such a profit is quite high."

Tài Nguyên rice (a local specialty rice variety) is grown in several areas of communes such as Vĩnh Lợi, Châu Thới, Hưng Hội, etc., thanks to suitable soil conditions.

The joy of a bountiful harvest and good prices was clearly visible on the face of Mr. Vo Van Vu Hoan, from Nha Dai A hamlet, Vinh Loi commune, as his family's 60 acres of rice had just been harvested. Mr. Vu Hoan said that with a yield of 900 kg per acre this season, his family harvested 50 tons of rice. With rice prices fluctuating between 8000 and 8200 VND/kg, his family earned a profit of nearly 250 million VND.

According to Mr. Hua Sit, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Loi commune, this year the commune planted over 1,000 hectares of Tài Nguyên rice. To date, most of the area is being harvested. A good harvest and favorable prices not only provide a stable income but also motivate farmers to invest boldly, apply new techniques, and improve production efficiency for subsequent rice crops.

Interestingly, although primarily consumed in the domestic market, Tài Nguyên rice has significantly higher economic value compared to many other rice varieties. According to scientists , Tài Nguyên rice is produced under natural conditions with unique characteristics such as climate, soil, rice variety, and cultivation techniques. These conditions have given Tài Nguyên rice its distinctive qualities: sticky, fragrant, and delicious, unlike other types of rice.

Farmers use combine harvesters to harvest Tài Nguyên rice.

In 2010, the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology) granted a certificate for the collective trademark of Vinh Loi Tai Nguyen rice. Subsequently, the People's Committee of Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province (formerly), collaborated with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute to revitalize the Vinh Loi Tai Nguyen rice variety in order to promote this special rice variety and move towards establishing a safe production area. However, for a long time, the Vinh Loi Tai Nguyen rice brand could not achieve the desired effectiveness due to the lack of organized production linked to consumption, resulting in unstable rice prices.

Mr. To Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chau Thoi commune, one of the localities with Tai Nguyen rice growing areas, shared that Tai Nguyen is a rice variety originating from the local seasonal rice crop, which has been selected and cultivated by farmers for decades. The reason why the collective brand of Tai Nguyen Vinh Loi rice has not been fully developed is due to the lack of a general plan for the high-quality Tai Nguyen specialty rice growing area, leading to geographical indication recognition. In addition, Tai Nguyen rice growers overuse chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This has led to a decline in the quality of Tai Nguyen rice.

Faced with this situation, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province, in coordination with the authorities of communes with areas producing Tài Nguyên rice, has implemented many solutions to build concentrated production areas and ensure traceability, thereby improving production efficiency and increasing farmers' income. Initial results have shown many positive signs in both production organization and consumption. Notably, the Saigon Green Economic Cooperative, Total Feeling LLC (USA), and Hung Thinh Cooperative in Vinh Loi commune, Ca Mau province, signed a tripartite cooperation agreement to purchase 30 tons of Tài Nguyên Vinh Loi specialty rice for export to the United States. This export contract represents a breakthrough in the development of high-tech agriculture and opens new opportunities for Tài Nguyên rice to reach the global market.

Farmers are using mechanization in transporting Tài Nguyên rice.

Mr. Hua Sit, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Loi commune, believes that to build a thriving brand of Vinh Loi Tai Nguyen rice and make it more popular in the market, it is necessary to develop a model for safe Tai Nguyen rice production according to VietGAP standards, organic farming, and the application of advanced farming techniques such as "3 reductions, 3 increases," "1 must, 5 reductions," and traceability. Importantly, there needs to be a change in mindset in production, encouraging farmers to change their farming practices, use bio-fertilizers and pesticides, and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers that can reduce the characteristics of Tai Nguyen rice grains. The People's Committee of Vinh Loi commune will continue to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province to revitalize the Tai Nguyen rice variety, build concentrated production areas, apply synchronized technical processes, and strictly control the quality of inputs and outputs. Simultaneously, they will promote the issuance of planting area codes, implement traceability, and gradually form a closed value chain to meet the demands of discerning markets.

Vinh Loi commune, along with other communes producing Tai Nguyen rice, is also focusing on promoting trade and expanding markets. At the same time, they are calling on domestic and foreign businesses to participate in production chain linkages, from supplying materials and technology to guaranteeing product purchase, and supporting the promotion of Tai Nguyen rice products on digital platforms.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/hat-gao-dac-san-ca-mau-tim-duong-ra-thi-truong-quoc-te-20260312085512882.htm