A specialty rice variety with round, sticky and fragrant grains is the pride of the people of Bac Giang.

Thai Son Golden Flower Sticky Rice – the pride of Hiep Hoa people

Thai Son commune is one of the rare areas in Hiep Hoa district that has ideal conditions for growing the yellow sticky rice variety. With sandy loam soil, rich in alluvium and suitable acidity and salinity, the fields in Thai Son have produced round, sticky and fragrant yellow sticky rice grains. This rice variety has been grown for a long time but only in small areas, mainly serving family needs.

Favored by nature in terms of soil and climate, Thai Son golden flower sticky rice has excellent quality. (Photo: HND Thai Son)

Long-time rice growers in Thai Son shared that the yellow sticky rice variety is not easy to grow. This is a late-season rice variety, requiring a lot of care and pest control techniques. But it is these difficulties that create the special value of this rice variety.

Realizing the economic potential of the yellow sticky rice variety, the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province has proactively developed a plan to support the people of Thai Son. From consulting, technical support for planting, processing, preserving, packaging products to expanding the consumption market, all are of interest and support to the Farmers' Association.

In 2014, the Bac Giang Farmers' Association helped people establish a Cooperative Group to develop the yellow sticky rice product. By 2020, the Thai Son Bac Giang Agricultural Cooperative was established with 7 official members and 55 households associated with the production of yellow sticky rice. In 2021, the Thai Son yellow sticky rice product achieved the 3-star OCOP standard of Bac Giang province, marking a strong development step and affirming the quality of the product in the market.

Since 2021, Thai Son golden sticky rice products have achieved 3-star OCOP quality of Bac Giang province. (Photo: HND Thai Son)

Since receiving technical support from the Farmers' Association at all levels for planting and product consumption, many farmers have boldly switched to growing the yellow sticky rice variety. Thai Son's yellow sticky rice products have been consumed smoothly, and many families have had a better life by selling yellow sticky rice to the Cooperative.

With the timely support of the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province, farmers in Thai Son commune have confidently developed the area of ​​​​yellow sticky rice cultivation. Up to now, the area of ​​​​yellow sticky rice cultivation in Thai Son has reached more than 60 hectares, the rice yield is 45 tons/ha, the total output of the commune is 250 tons/year. Thai Son's yellow sticky rice products are not only consumed in Bac Giang but also expanded to major markets such as Hanoi , Hai Phong, Quang Ninh.

In recent years, people's living standards have been increasingly improved, leading to an increase in demand for agricultural products of good quality and ensuring food hygiene and safety. From that, Thai Son's golden sticky rice products have increasingly gained a foothold in the market.

Improve the effectiveness of promoting OCOP products

Sharing with Dan Viet, Mr. La Van Trong - Chairman of the Thai Son Commune Farmers' Association, shared: "Since the establishment of the Professional Association and the Thai Son Bac Giang Agricultural Cooperative, we Thai Son farmers have had a place to exchange and disseminate experiences, transfer production techniques, and at the same time promote cooperation in production and consumption of golden sticky rice products. However, due to limited economic and management potential, the Thai Son Agricultural Cooperative has only been able to purchase about 30% of the rice output for people to consume.

Golden sticky rice products are processed into many delicious and attractive dishes.

In the past time, the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province has actively supported the Farmers' Association of Thai Son commune and other entities and farmers with typical agricultural products to properly implement the Project "Farmers' Associations at all levels are the core in organizing agricultural production in the direction of cooperation, linking value chains, building and improving the quality of OCOP products, period 2022 - 2025". Thai Son golden sticky rice product is one of the products selected by the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province for support.

In 2023, the Provincial Farmers' Association continued to support production according to an environmentally friendly rice cultivation model, using preparations in straw treatment and microbial fertilizers. This model has been deployed on an area of ​​60 hectares, including 40 hectares of golden sticky rice. At the same time, actively propagandizing people to build an environmentally friendly farming model including 3 processes: proper straw treatment, reasonable fertilization and regulated irrigation.

Mr. La Van Trong - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Thai Son commune added: "Golden sticky rice requires strict growing techniques, especially during the crop season when the pest situation is complicated. The Farmers' Association has instructed people to use quality products to preserve it from pests without adding pesticide residues or banned substances. This rice variety is also preserved according to VietGAP standards, supported by the state on an area of ​​10 hectares. Tests on soil and rice samples all ensure that there is no toxic lead content. Recently, the golden sticky rice variety has been recognized as meeting HACCP standards, one of the necessary conditions for Thai Son golden sticky rice products to continue to be upgraded from 3 stars to 4 stars."

The new Thai Son golden sticky rice product has been recognized as meeting HACCP standards, one of the necessary conditions for the Thai Son golden sticky rice product to continue to be upgraded from 3 stars to 4 stars.

Although Thai Son yellow sticky rice products have been consumed in many places such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, there is still no stability. Not many units have signed long-term contracts, the Cooperative only consumes small quantities, about 250 tons of rice per crop. The peak is during the 2-3 months of Tet, consuming about 45 tons, selling nearly 100 tons for the whole year, the rest is consumed by people outside.

To promote the product to the market, the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province has actively introduced and displayed the product. However, the product of yellow sticky rice is still new to consumers and has not been widely accessed.

The future direction of Thai Son Bac Giang Agricultural Cooperative is to find a stable purchasing source, increase the product value to 4 stars and ensure the production cycle. The cooperative needs to continue to stabilize the production cycle, ensure quality, and not intercrop other types of rice to maintain the product value.

With strong support from the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province and the efforts of Thai Son people, we believe that Thai Son golden sticky rice products will increasingly develop, become a famous brand and bring a prosperous and happy life to the people here.

Source: https://danviet.vn/bac-giang-nang-cao-chat-luong-doi-moi-phuong-thuc-quang-ba-san-pham-ocop-20240627145522582.htm