Expanding the cultivation of BL9 rice variety on shrimp farming land.

In line with the policy of restructuring the agricultural sector towards increasing added value and sustainable development, the provincial agricultural sector has "developed a pilot model and expanded the cultivation of BL9 rice variety on shrimp farming land" in cooperatives. This model has achieved quite high efficiency, therefore the agricultural sector encourages its expansion and is gradually building a brand for the BL9 rice variety.

• Solutions for protecting summer-autumn rice crops.
• Ready for the new rice crop.

The effectiveness of BL9 rice variety

For the 2024-2025 rice-shrimp farming season, the provincial agricultural sector will implement the production of BL9 rice variety on over 1,000 hectares. BL9 rice is salt-tolerant, highly adaptable to shrimp farming areas, and yields 6.5-7.5 tons/ha.

Provincial leaders visit the BL9 rice exhibition area.

A typical example is the pilot model for producing and expanding the BL9 rice variety on shrimp farming land at Ba Dinh Cooperative (Vinh Loc commune), covering an area of ​​95 hectares with 57 participating households. Farmers participating in the pilot model receive 50% government support in the form of supplies such as BL9 rice seeds, organic fertilizers, and biological pesticides.

In addition, the agricultural sector also assigns technical staff to advise, monitor, and support farmers throughout the cultivation process. Farmers participating in the model all apply techniques such as reducing seed quantity, integrated pest management (IPM), implementing the "3 reductions - 3 increases" program, and limiting the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides in pest control, prioritizing the selection of organic and biological products.

Farmers visit the BL9 rice seed production model at Ba Dinh Cooperative (Vinh Loc commune).

At the end of the rice crop season on shrimp farming land at Ba Dinh Cooperative, members earned a profit of over 43 million VND/ha, about 8 million VND/ha higher than the control plots. According to farmers' assessments, the BL9 rice variety is fragrant, easy to cultivate, resistant to pests and diseases, especially resistant to blast disease, has strong tillering, and yields well, making it suitable for farming conditions in shrimp farming areas in Vinh Loc and Hong Dan communes.

Building a brand for Ca Mau rice.

Given the outstanding advantages of the BL9 rice variety, in 2025, the Department of Agriculture recommends that farmers in the rice-shrimp farming areas of the province introduce the BL9 rice variety into production on 4,600 hectares. Hoa Phat Cooperative (Hong Dan commune) is one of the pioneering cooperatives in producing the BL9 rice variety.

BL9 rice variety is grown on land used for shrimp farming.

Mr. Vo Duc Toan, Director of Hoa Phat Cooperative, said that they have planted the BL9 rice variety for four seasons in both saltwater and freshwater areas, achieving a yield of 7 tons/ha or more. Therefore, for the 2025 rice-shrimp farming season, Mr. Toan and the cooperative members will switch to producing the BL9 rice variety on 50 hectares. Of that, 20 hectares will be cultivated using organic methods, ensuring export standards.

Mr. Vo Duc Toan inspects BL9 rice seeds in preparation for the 2025 planting season.

To gradually build the BL9 rice brand, it is necessary to establish a BL9 rice seed production area to ensure supply for the expansion of the model. In 2025, Vinh Loc commune will encourage farmers, especially cooperatives, to expand 200 hectares of rice-shrimp farming land to produce BL9 rice. At the same time, the goal is to develop BL9 rice into an OCOP (One Commune One Product) product . Building the BL9 rice brand will not only increase the value of the rice grain but also improve the income of farmers in the province.

BL9 rice field on shrimp farming land of Hoa Phat Cooperative (Hong Dan commune).

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" The BL9 rice variety is very suitable for production on shrimp farming land. The agricultural sector will guide farmers to produce BL9 rice according to organic and clean rice production processes to build a brand. Along with that, we will strengthen links with businesses to build large-scale fields and guarantee the purchase of BL9 rice. In addition, the province will develop a BL9 rice raw material area, forming a value chain of 'fragrant rice - clean shrimp' that meets high quality standards and export requirements...", affirmed Mr. Luu Hoang Ly, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province.

Minh Dat

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nhan-rong-giong-lua-bl9-tren-dat-nuoi-tom--a40062.html