Expectations for the wet rice farming model

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower investment costs, and increase economic efficiency in rice cultivation, many farmers in the province are becoming familiar with and placing high hopes on the alternating wet-dry (AWD) rice cultivation model.

The leveled and improved rice fields, combined with the application of mechanization in production, have created favorable conditions for Mr. La Van Hanh to apply the smart wet-dry alternating rice cultivation process in this year's autumn-winter rice crop.

Recently, in the 18-hectare rice field of farmer La Van Hanh in Truong Long Tay commune, Chau Thanh A district, under the supervision of provincial and district agricultural officials and local people, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) carried out rice sowing according to the smart wet-dry alternating rice cultivation process. This model was implemented by four businesses working together to guide farmers. It is a production linkage solution following a closed-loop rice cultivation process, from supplying input materials to providing technical solutions, monitoring methods, measuring, and reporting emissions; in which, Net Zero Carbon Joint Stock Company is the lead unit, coordinating, organizing, implementing, and managing the entire model.

Mr. Tran Minh Tien, General Director of Net Zero Carbon Joint Stock Company, informed: The smart rice cultivation process with alternating wet and dry periods has been successfully implemented in Krong Ana district, Dak Lak province. The model is being expanded to several localities in the Mekong Delta region such as Dong Thap, Kien Giang, and Hau Giang… With the desire to optimize costs and increase productivity for farmers, the model in Dong Thap province has demonstrated this, having just completed its harvest with promising results. Specifically, rice yield in the model reached 8.8 tons/ha, while the control plot achieved over 7 tons/ha and other fields in the area only reached about 6 tons/ha.

According to Mr. Tien, in addition to promising yields, the AWD process also helps farmers reduce pesticide costs by about 30% and chemical fertilizer use by about 10%. The rice grains are cleaner and greener, increasing productivity, reducing emissions, and improving the health of rice farmers. Because this is a relatively new farming process for farmers, to reassure them, Net Zero Carbon implements a "compensation" policy if the rice yield from the model is lower than the district average.

With the collaborative participation of four businesses supporting farmers in implementing the model, each business has its own function to help farmers achieve the production efficiency set out in the model. Specifically, farmers are supported with solutions for alternating wet and dry cultivation; provided with smart fertilizers, which reduce input costs and help rice plants grow strong and less susceptible to pests and diseases; and supported in monitoring, measuring, evaluating, and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions from rice plants. The businesses are also responsible for operating a satellite system to monitor and photograph the entire development process of the rice fields. After the harvest season, based on the collected data, the relevant businesses will analyze, evaluate, determine the emission reduction level, and issue a report.

Upon learning about the new farming method, Mr. La Van Hanh, from Truong Long Tay commune, Chau Thanh A district, shared: “Previously, I had applied the alternating wet-dry smart rice cultivation process, but not strictly. Currently, rice production is highly developed with cluster sowing technology, burying fertilizer, sowing with drones, or using organic and biological fertilizers; and the fields are leveled, thus helping farmers apply new and effective models to production, a prime example being the alternating wet-dry smart rice cultivation model that I am implementing in collaboration with several companies this autumn-winter rice season. With the information that the companies have provided from the beginning of the season, I expect the model to bring many practical benefits, especially reducing costs to increase profits.”

Sharing his experience with the smart rice cultivation model using alternating wet and dry methods, Mr. Nguyen Van Thich, Director of Tan Long Cooperative in Tan Long hamlet, Vinh Tuong commune, Vi Thuy district, said: “After working with Net Zero Carbon Joint Stock Company, in this summer-autumn rice crop, the cooperative has piloted 5 hectares of rice cultivation using the alternating wet and dry model. Currently, the rice plants in the model are over 60 days old and developing better than those cultivated using traditional methods. In particular, when cultivated using the alternating wet and dry process, the rice roots grow very deep in the soil, providing sufficient nutrients for the rice plants to grow. As a result, farmers can reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides because the rice plants are healthier and less susceptible to pests and diseases. A preliminary estimate suggests that rice cultivation using the alternating wet and dry model will reduce costs by at least 20% compared to traditional methods.”

The smart rice cultivation process with alternating wet and dry periods involves a total wet period of 47 days and a dry period of 53 days. Farmers divide this into 4 water intake cycles and 5 water drainage cycles. From 85 days after sowing, farmers naturally drain the water, then restrict water flow for 10-14 days before harvest to ensure the field surface is dry, improving rice quality and facilitating the use of machinery during harvesting. According to the engineers guiding the model, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions is affected by the wet and dry periods in the field. If the dry period is longer during cultivation, the amount of emissions will be lower. During the implementation of the model, participating businesses will support farmers in monitoring, measuring, evaluating, and reporting on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation; they will also be responsible for operating the satellite system to monitor and photograph the entire development process of the rice field.

“Cultivating rice using the alternating wet-dry cycle, combined with recommended fertilization and pesticide application, can help farmers reduce emissions by 3.5-4 tons/ha/rice crop. Furthermore, at the end of the rice production season, in addition to selling high-quality rice grains, farmers can also earn attractive income from selling carbon credits thanks to their greenhouse gas emission reduction practices. With this approach, our company hopes to participate in the project “Sustainable Development of 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Linked to Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030” being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” added Mr. Tran Minh Tien, General Director of Net Zero Carbon Joint Stock Company.

Text and photos: Huu Phuoc

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