The "bottleneck" that needs to be addressed in rice production in Phu Thien.

(GLO) - Phu Thien commune is a key rice-growing area in the western part of the province with over 5,000 hectares, but it lacks a local seed production facility. To obtain seeds for production, farmers have to buy them from An Giang, Tay Ninh, and Dak Lak provinces. This "bottleneck" needs to be addressed soon.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyen (Group 9, Phu Thien Commune) said: “Rice here is mainly grown in two seasons, and we have to buy seeds from elsewhere, which increases costs and results in inconsistent quality. If there were a rice seed production facility right in the commune, farmers would feel more secure and reduce production costs.”

The leaders of Phu Thien commune People's Committee expressed their desire to receive the Ayun Ha Plant Breeding Experiment Station to serve the production of rice seeds for the locality and neighboring communes. Photo: Minh Trung

The rice seed production project for the period 2025-2030 in Phu Thien commune aims to proactively supply approximately 110 tons of rice seeds annually from concentrated production areas, moving towards developing a high-quality seed variety associated with the "Phu Thien Rice" brand. A prerequisite for achieving this goal is the availability of infrastructure for seed production, including land, irrigation systems, storage facilities, and testing areas.

The commune currently has the Ayun Ha Plant Breeding Experiment Station, belonging to the Plant Breeding Research Center (Department of Agriculture and Environment), which was built over 20 years ago. The station has a favorable location, near the downstream of the Ayun Ha irrigation system, in fertile land with abundant water resources. It has a field area of ​​approximately 19 hectares and a warehouse and drying yard covering about 0.3 hectares. However, the station's potential has not been fully exploited, while the locality urgently needs land and facilities to implement rice seed production.

According to Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Thien commune, the station is operational but has not fully utilized its available resources. It mainly leases land to households for rice production or processes seeds for some seed companies, and does not proactively produce seeds or test new varieties.

In early 2025, the People's Committee of Phu Thien district (formerly) submitted a proposal to the People's Committee of Gia Lai province (formerly) requesting the transfer of the Ayun Ha Plant Variety Experiment Station to the district for rice seed production, but the request has not yet been resolved.

"We are eager to maximize the potential and advantages of the station's facilities and land area, and we hope to receive the handover of this facility to serve agricultural development and build the 'Phu Thien Rice' brand in the 2025-2030 period," Mr. Tuan said.

Currently, Phu Thien commune has over 5,000 hectares of rice paddies. If farmers can proactively secure local seed sources, they will reduce costs, ensure quality, increase productivity, and develop sustainable agriculture that adapts to climate change. Utilizing the existing facilities of the Ayun Ha Plant Breeding Experiment Station helps save on new investment costs and makes efficient use of state budget funds.

"If the station is handed over to the commune for management, we will invest in equipment and infrastructure to serve rice seed production, meeting the needs of the local area and neighboring communes," Mr. Tuan affirmed.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/diem-nghen-can-thao-go-trong-san-xuat-lua-nuoc-o-phu-thien-post569327.html