Green rice elevates Vietnamese rice

Vietnamese rice has continuously conquered important milestones and is preparing to implement the project "1 million hectares of high-quality rice" to enhance its brand in the world market.

Vietnam's agricultural sector has just received good news when winning the international award "World's Best Rice" held in the Philippines. At the same time, Vietnam's rice industry is also facing many important events such as the first Vietnam Rice Festival to raise its international level, launching the Rice Industry Association; and most importantly, officially announcing the National Program "1 million hectares of high-quality rice" to affirm to the world the role, responsibility, and production orientation of Vietnam's agriculture. The project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030" is a new step that people and businesses are preparing to conquer.

The 1 million hectare high-quality rice project will raise the quality of Vietnamese rice and benefit farmers, helping to reduce production costs and increase income.

CONG HAN

1 million hectares of green rice bring profit of more than 16,000 billion VND

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Van, over 50 years old, living in Thanh Binh District ( Dong Thap ), has been involved in rice cultivation for more than 30 years, confided: "Never before have rice farmers been as happy as this year because of the bumper crop and good prices. The rice has just formed ears, traders have competed to get deposits so they are very healthy. If the upcoming winter-spring crop continues to have a bumper crop and good prices like now, my family will have a little extra after many years of struggling with rice. When I heard that the Government approved the 1 million hectare rice project, which helps farmers link up with businesses to increase the value of rice grains and increase income compared to now, I was very happy. If the government can introduce businesses to do business properly, organize farmers to link up under contracts in a fair and transparent manner for mutual benefit, I am ready to participate". The number of farmers with progressive awareness like Mr. Van in the Mekong Delta is not small. Besides, there are also many farmers with land areas from a few hectares to a few hundred hectares. This is a favorable condition to accelerate the progress of production linkage between farmers and between farmers and enterprises. Farmers participating in linkage models all have much higher profits and that is a favorable condition to implement the project. Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Director of the Department of Crop Production, also affirmed that the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project will certainly bring great benefits to farmers. Because traditional rice production costs a lot from seeds to fertilizers and pesticides but is not very effective, while creating a lot of greenhouse gases. The project will support farmers to organize production according to new rice growing techniques, thereby reducing input costs and limiting greenhouse gas emissions through alternating dry and wet irrigation. Specifically, promoting the use of certified rice varieties, reducing the amount of rice seeds used, reducing the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, using water economically... in addition to promoting mechanization. Currently, there are many smart rice production models being implemented that have proven their effectiveness. In the first phase, production costs will be reduced by 20%, equivalent to a possible investment cost savings of up to VND9,500 billion. In addition, through the application of sustainable farming processes and reorganization of production, it will contribute to ensuring stable rice prices, and it is expected that rice prices will increase by 10% compared to traditional farming. "With an average rice price of VND5.1 million/ton, a 10% price increase will help increase revenue from rice sales by about VND7,000 billion/year (if calculated for a total of 1 million hectares equivalent to 13 million tons of rice). Thus, profits from rice production will increase due to reduced costs and increased selling prices. It is estimated that if over 1 million hectares of specialized rice areas, profits from rice production will increase by about VND16,000 billion," the leader of the Department of Crop Production analyzed.

Livelihoods of millions of farming households

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung added: "This project is a very large and important program, attracting attention not only from the whole country but also internationally. Up to now, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has basically completed negotiations with the World Bank (WB). For this project, we need about 600 million USD, and the WB has committed to lending 300 - 400 million USD. The budget has prepared 100 million USD, in addition, 40 - 50 million USD will be allocated from carbon credit funds or climate change funds and non-refundable aid funds. For the rest, businesses and localities can work with the Ministry to meet the funding source."

The 1 million hectare high-quality rice project will raise the level of Vietnamese rice.

CONG HAN

According to the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice to reduce emissions is not only related to technical issues but also to the livelihoods of more than 1 million farming households, so it has great social significance. "Vietnam has more than 180 enterprises operating in the field of rice export, but only 50 enterprises have cooperative activities and links with farmers. Of these, only a few enterprises have organized a methodical and complete model. Therefore, the role of enterprises in completing the project's goals is very important and I call on the rice business community to join hands in implementing it," said Mr. Hoang Trung. From a national strategy perspective, Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), commented: "In the context that Vietnam and the Mekong Delta are facing serious climate change and unstable water resources, we cannot continue to expand the area or increase crops, increase productivity to increase rice output... The only way is to find ways to increase the value of Vietnamese rice grains to increase farmers' income. Building a specialized area for high-quality and low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta is a breakthrough in reorganizing rice production and contributing to the implementation of the Government 's commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP26), towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2050".

From export power to responsible nation

"Over the past time, when the world faced the problem of food security, Vietnam has emerged as a potential and prestigious supplier. This is an opportunity for us to affirm our position as a rice powerhouse, not only meeting the food needs of 100 million people in the country but also participating in the global food system as a responsible country. With a long-standing rice culture, rice for Vietnamese people is not simply a food but has become a culture and historical tradition of tens of millions of Vietnamese farming households. At this time, the world is approaching the trend of green growth, low emissions, it is also an opportunity for us to convey the message to the world that the Vietnamese rice industry is shifting from a mindset of production output to a mindset of quality production, while ensuring green growth in the context of climate change". Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan

"WB has committed to supporting capital of 400 million USD for the project, this number can increase if Vietnam has a proposal. WB has also committed to buying carbon credits from this rice production project at a price of about 10 USD/ton of CO2 (credit). And 1 hectare of rice can reduce emissions from 5 - 10 tons of carbon, so revenue can increase from selling these credits by 50 - 100 USD/ha/year". Mr. Cao Thang Binh, senior agricultural expert of WB in Vietnam

The Vietnam International Rice Festival will take place from December 11 to 14, 2023 in Vi Thanh City (Hau Giang), jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committee of Hau Giang Province. According to the Organizing Committee, this is the first time the Vietnam Rice Festival has been upgraded to an international festival (the previous 5 times were only held domestically) with the participation of about 200 international delegates. At this festival, the Project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" will be officially announced. Thereby, conveying the message and commitment of the Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, towards green and clean production.

Thanhnien.vn