Linking rice seed production increases income.

No longer worried about "bumper harvests leading to price drops," many farmers in Da Nang have increased their income by participating in rice seed production linkages with businesses through cooperatives.

The rice seed production field of Dai Thang Agricultural Cooperative. Photo: HO QUAN

This value chain model is expected to continue expanding, attracting more and more cooperatives and farmers to participate, contributing to the sustainable development of local agriculture.

Output stability

Mr. Hoang Trung Hung, Director of Dai Thang Agricultural Cooperative (Phu Thuan commune), said that the cooperative is acting as an intermediary for local farmers to link rice seed production with businesses, maintaining a production scale of about 170 hectares per year.

According to the agreement, the business will purchase the output at the price of rice agreed upon at the beginning of the season. For its part, the cooperative will provide technical support and machinery to support the production process from land preparation to harvesting.

“Thanks to participating in the cooperative, farmers no longer worry about the situation of a bumper harvest leading to low prices. This year's winter-spring crop saw a 10% increase in rice yield in the commune compared to the same period last year. However, low rice prices and high costs of materials and harvesting have caused many difficulties for commercial rice producers. Meanwhile, farmers who cooperate with businesses are guaranteed everything from seed and material supply to guaranteed purchase, so they always make high profits. On average, each crop yields an income of 3.7-4 million VND per sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of seed rice, an increase of 1.5-2 million VND per sao compared to growing regular rice,” Mr. Hung shared.

Using drones for spraying pesticides in Xuan Phu commune. Photo: Ho Quan

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of Dien Phuoc Agricultural Cooperative I (Dien Ban Tay commune), said that linking rice seed production helps increase the value per unit of cultivated land. For those participating in the linkage, for every kilogram of rice seeds sold, they will receive a profit margin of 800-1,000 VND/kg compared to the price of similar commercial rice on the market.

In addition, farmers have reduced drying and processing costs by approximately 500 VND/kg. Using good quality seeds combined with rational intensive farming practices has resulted in seed rice yields being 10-15% higher than commercial rice yields. Currently, the Dien Phuoc I Agricultural Cooperative has attracted about 1,000 farmer members, generating an additional annual income of 1.3-1.5 billion VND.

Building a sustainable value chain.

In the city, ThaiBinh Seed Central - Central Highlands Co., Ltd. is one of the leading units in linked rice seed production. Specifically in the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop season, this company implemented linked production on over 1,500 hectares with 27 high-quality rice varieties.

ThaiBinh Seed Central - Central Highlands Co., Ltd. purchases rice from farmers in Vu Gia commune participating in the supply chain during the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop season. Photo: HO QUAN

According to Mr. Trieu Tan Phu, the company's director, when participating in the supply chain, farmers receive comprehensive support from seed sources and fertilizers to cultivation techniques. The company purchases fresh rice directly from the fields, helping farmers avoid the risk of price drops. On average, the value of rice seed production brings farmers 20-25% higher than that of commercial rice.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the City's Crop Production and Plant Protection Department, the annual area for rice seed production reaches over 5,000 hectares, with a yield of approximately 25,700 tons. Currently, 33 businesses and cooperatives in the city participate in the supply chain. Many scientific advancements have been flexibly applied, such as the "1 must, 5 reductions" program, alternating wet and dry irrigation, using drones for spraying pesticides, and introducing disease-resistant varieties. As a result, costs have decreased, quality has improved, and environmental protection has been contributed.

However, according to the City's Cooperative Union, Da Nang currently has 458 agricultural cooperatives, of which 110 specialize in rice and rice seed production (accounting for 24%). Generally, the number of cooperatives participating in the supply chain is still small, and their scale remains fragmented, hindering commodity production. Management capacity in some cooperatives is limited, lacking investment capital and slow to adopt digital technology , affecting their ability to access markets.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vu, Chairman of the City's Cooperative Union, said: "To affirm their important role in linking rice seed production, cooperatives need to improve their management capacity. In particular, they must focus on applying science and technology, building concentrated production areas, and strengthening linkages with businesses throughout the value chain. This will contribute to ensuring benefits, increasing income for people, and moving towards the sustainable development of the rice seed industry."

Source: https://baodanang.vn/lien-ket-san-xuat-lua-giong-nang-cao-thu-nhap-3338631.html