"Green" rice is priced 200-300 VND/kg higher than regular rice.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan emphasized that the project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice cultivation" in the Mekong Delta can only succeed with the consensus and strong participation of local authorities and farmers.

This statement was made during a meeting with the heads and deputy heads of the National Assembly delegations from 12 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region, held in Hanoi on the evening of August 26.

A view of the meeting of National Assembly delegates at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, late afternoon of August 26.

The project has been piloted over three consecutive seasons in the provinces of Can Tho , Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, and Dong Thap. Initial results show that farmers have significantly reduced the amount of rice seeds, fertilizers, and production costs, while increasing productivity and post-harvest value. The harvested rice is purchased at a price 200-300 VND/kg higher than with traditional farming methods.

However, Mr. Thach Phuoc Binh, Deputy Head of the Standing Delegation of the National Assembly of Tra Vinh province, expressed concern about the lack of synchronization in the planning of irrigation, transportation, and warehousing infrastructure. He suggested that a clear coordination mechanism is needed between the central and local governments, as well as between localities themselves, to ensure that the objectives of the project are not affected.

Minister Le Minh Hoan speaks at the meeting with National Assembly delegates.

Sharing these concerns, Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed to the Government to include "traders" in the rice industry system to enhance synchronization and efficiency. He also called on National Assembly delegates to spread the spirit of the project to the people, helping to change mindsets and farming methods to achieve the set goals.

According to the Minister, for the rice industry to be sustainable, it must have an ecosystem with the participation of all stakeholders: farmers, traders, businesses, and the State. In particular, local leaders must consider this a "revolution" for the project to succeed.

Ms. Ha Thi Nga, President of the Vietnam Women's Union and a National Assembly representative from Dong Thap province, shared that the dual goal of the project is to help farmers produce green and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With proper practices, farmers can earn additional income from selling carbon credits. This not only increases farmers' income but also gives Vietnamese rice a competitive advantage in exports, while attracting young workers back to their homeland to produce rice.

However, she also emphasized that farmers need to overcome the barriers of traditional production practices to adapt to the new methods.

VAN PHUC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lua-xanh-cao-hon-lua-thuong-200-300-dongkg-post755809.html