Organic rice-shrimp farming is well-positioned to participate in the 1 million hectare rice project.

Kien Giang province has proposed incorporating the rice-shrimp ecosystem into the implementation of the Project for 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta region.

Rice-shrimp farming is well-suited for participation in the Project.

On April 1st, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam led a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to survey agricultural cooperatives in Kien Giang province selected to participate in the project "Sustainable Development of 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice Specialization Linked to Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" (referred to as the 1 Million Hectare High-Quality Rice Project).

Accordingly, the delegation visited and surveyed the Thanh An Shrimp, Crab, and Rice Cooperative (Dong Thanh commune, An Minh district) and the Phu Hoa Youth Agricultural Service Cooperative (Tan Hoi commune, Tan Hiep district).

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam (second from the right) surveys agricultural cooperatives in Kien Giang province selected to participate in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. Photo: Trung Chanh. — Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam (second from the right) surveys agricultural cooperatives in Kien Giang province selected to participate in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. Photo: *Trung Chanh.*

The Thanh An Shrimp, Crab, and Rice Cooperative operates on a rotational model of one rice crop followed by one shrimp crop, combined with the cultivation of sea crabs. Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Director of the Cooperative, stated that the cooperative has a production area of 140 hectares, in addition to a linked production area of approximately 400 hectares. The cooperative has been producing rice organically for the past five years, having signed a contract with Dai Duong Xanh Company for input supplies and product distribution.

According to Mr. Khanh, the cooperative members are very hopeful of participating in the implementation of the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project currently being carried out by the agricultural sector because farmers here already have experience in organic rice production. Applying the project's criteria on emission reduction will bring high efficiency and many advantages.

According to Mr. Le Van Khanh, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of An Minh District, the district has a planned rice-shrimp farming area of 38,900 hectares. The district has also established 21 agricultural cooperatives producing according to the rice-shrimp rotation model. The annual farming schedule is from January to September for brackish water shrimp and crab farming; from October to December for rice cultivation combined with giant freshwater prawn farming.

An Minh District proposes participating in the Project to cultivate 1 million hectares of high-quality rice in rice-shrimp farming areas, covering an area of 20,000 hectares (by 2030). Accordingly, the district needs support for investment in infrastructure, transportation, irrigation, and warehouses. It also needs investment in 5 smart pest and disease control stations to monitor fields and manage harmful organisms.

In particular, support models for reusing rice straw to develop livelihoods and apply biotechnology and microorganisms in rice straw treatment, creating a favorable natural environment to promote the development of natural food in rice-shrimp farming models.

Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Trinh, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences ), assessed that the rice-shrimp farming system itself is circular and natural, and combining it with organic production processes makes it even better. The shrimp-rice model is a sustainable agricultural production system. After the rice is planted, the straw decomposes, providing food for the shrimp. After the shrimp farming season, the shrimp waste provides nutrients for the rice plants. This is a closed cycle that farmers do not have to invest in many additional inputs, thus reducing production costs.

"Here, farmers have already achieved organic production standards, so there will be more opportunities to move towards low-emission production and green rice production. When green rice is certified, its value will be much higher than regular rice. If they participate in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project for the rice-shrimp farming model, farmers will simultaneously achieve three benefits: reduced emissions, increased economic efficiency, and the preservation of a sustainable ecosystem for agriculture and rural areas," emphasized Dr. Mai Van Trinh.

Kien Giang province is developing 200,000 hectares of high-quality rice.

According to Mr. Tran Cong Danh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, the People's Committee of Kien Giang province has decided on the scale of the area participating in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project, with an area of 200,000 hectares, implemented in 12 districts and cities of the province.

The implementation process will be divided into phases. Specifically, Phase 1 (2024-2025) focuses on consolidating existing areas of the Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project in Vietnam (VnSAT Project) with an area of 24,738 hectares and aims to expand the area outside the VnSAT Project area to reach 100,000 hectares by 2025. Phase 2 (2026-2030) identifies key areas to develop investment projects for high-quality, emission-reducing specialized rice cultivation areas, adding another 100,000 hectares to reach a total area of 200,000 hectares.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam (third from the right) and the delegation surveying the Thanh An shrimp, crab, and rice cooperative, which Kien Giang province has proposed to participate in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. Photo: Trung Chanh. — Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam (third from the right) and the delegation surveying the Thanh An shrimp, crab, and rice cooperative, which Kien Giang province has proposed to participate in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. Photo: *Trung Chanh.*

The main activities to implement the contents of the Project include selecting and establishing participating areas and land areas, reviewing, applying, and refining technical packages to ensure sustainable development criteria, reorganizing production and providing training to improve capacity, investing in upgrading infrastructure in specialized farming areas, mobilizing resources, and providing technical and financial support from carbon finance funds and other support funds worldwide.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam, in implementing the Project on 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has established teams to conduct surveys in key rice-producing localities with alternating freshwater and brackish water ecosystems.

"Regarding the rice-shrimp farming model in Kien Giang, we plan to select it for participation in the Project because it is a very promising, environmentally friendly production model. Farmers practicing this model have proactively adopted organic farming practices, and businesses have signed contracts to supply materials and purchase products at high prices. However, rice-shrimp rotation requires strict adherence to the seasonal schedule and the application of technical procedures to achieve high efficiency," Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam noted.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam assessed that the rice-shrimp farming model using organic processes is very suitable for inclusion in the Project to cultivate 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, applying low-emission production processes. The success of the model not only helps increase value and improve farmers' income but also contributes to building a brand of green-produced rice on shrimp farming land.

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