Duc Thinh village, Hung Khanh commune, is one of four villages implementing the project "Improving the quality of applying sustainable rice production techniques to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in rice-specialized farming areas," implemented by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment in collaboration with OXFAM in 2025.
With the support of the project, 32 households in the village received meticulous guidance from technical staff through on-site training in the fields. Techniques ranging from field preparation, mud stirring, sparse planting, leaving pathways, to cyclical watering, reducing chemical nitrogen fertilizers, and composting organic fertilizers from straw and manure using biological preparations were all taught hands-on.
Sustainable rice farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions help increase productivity and lower costs.
Furthermore, the villagers were involved in each stage of rice plant development and emission levels were measured. At the end of the project, the average rice yield reached 2.2 quintals/acre, the rice grains were firm and long, costs were reduced by 50%, and emissions were reduced by 73% compared to traditional farming methods. Seeing the benefits, more and more farmers in Duc Thinh village are proactively learning and applying the methods to their family's fields.
Mr. Luong Ngoc Dung, head of Duc Thinh village, shared: "This new technique isn't difficult, but it involves more steps and is more meticulous than traditional farming methods. In particular, the field surface must be carefully prepared before transplanting, unlike before when it was left unattended. Basically, farmers in Duc Thinh can all implement these techniques smoothly. Even without the guidance of the officials, the village's rice yield in the 2025 crop season will still average 2 quintals per sao (approximately 200 kg per 1000 square meters)."
For the 2026 spring rice crop, the entire Duc Thinh village has 85 households cultivating rice on an area of 13 hectares, with 90% of this area being cultivated by the people using sustainable techniques to minimize emissions.Mr. Luong Ngoc Dung - Head of Duc Thinh village, Hung Khanh commune
Not only with rice cultivation, but in recent years, the agriculture and environment sector of Lao Cai province has proactively implemented many agricultural programs to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
During the period 2022-2025, Lao Cai province implemented 21 demonstration models on climate change adaptation and emission reduction, involving 81 communes and 316 households, covering a total area of 78 hectares.
A model for raising earthworms to produce organic fertilizer in Lien Son commune.
The implemented models were highly appreciated by local authorities for their content and implementation methods, such as: the cucumber cultivation model along the value chain on an 8-hectare scale with 40 participating households in Phong Hai commune using high-quality cucumber varieties, combined with mechanization and mulching to reduce water loss during the dry season; the model of growing Panama disease-resistant banana varieties in Bat Xat, Bao Thang, and Muong Khuong areas…
The synchronized implementation of solutions to protect crops from cold and drought, the conversion of inefficient rice paddy land to other dryland crops, and the development of crop varieties that adapt to climate change, reduce emissions, are resistant to pests and diseases, and have high productivity, quality, and economic efficiency are being prioritized.
In 2025 alone, the entire province converted 1,850 hectares of low-yield crops to key crops suitable to the soil and climate conditions of each locality.
The province has also successfully researched and developed new hybrid and purebred rice varieties with high yield and quality, adapted to climate change, such as LC26, LC268, and LC18; and successfully selected and tested new temperate fruit tree varieties including: one BH peach variety, one BH1 purple plum variety, and one BH plum variety, all with high yield, good quality, attractive fruit appearance, and high economic value.
Simultaneously, the agriculture and environment sector has also intensified support for tens of thousands of farmers to access new scientific and technical knowledge and apply emission reduction techniques suitable for their crops.
As a result, more and more localities are now shifting from traditional farming to low-emission production models, prioritizing water conservation, sustainable land management, and reduced use of fossil fuels in production.
Advanced irrigation techniques are being adopted by many agricultural cooperatives.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Men, Director of Minh Tien Safe Vegetable Cooperative in Quy Mong commune, said: "Unlike the free-range farming methods of the past, we now use a water-saving irrigation system, compost manure, and composted green plants as replacements for chemical fertilizers. We also use pesticides correctly, with sufficient waiting periods. Ten days after preparing the soil, we dry it, clean off mold, and disinfect it to kill fungi before sowing the seeds."
In addition, fungicide is only sprayed when the plants have three leaves, and from then on, only watering is used. With this method, the amount of pesticides has been reduced by 80%, fertilizer by 60%, and irrigation water by 60% compared to traditional farming.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Men makes organic fertilizer from plant by-products.
To further develop crop production towards sustainable emission reduction, Lao Cai province has issued Plan 205/KH-UBND dated December 26, 2025, on the implementation of the Project on Emission Reduction in Crop Production for the period 2025-2030, with a vision to 2050.
Accordingly, the province has concretized the content of the project with 8 specific objectives, 6 tasks, and 5 solutions.
In addition to selecting and applying appropriate emission reduction techniques, flexibly transforming crop structures to suit the ecological characteristics and farming practices of the region, and applying a Measurement-Reporting-Verification (MRV) system and greenhouse gas emission database, the province will develop seven groups of low-emission agricultural products with a total projected area of approximately 69,000 hectares and identify appropriate emission reduction solutions.
Tea is one of seven low-emission agricultural product groups targeted for organic development, utilizing by-products as fertilizer.
By 2035, Lao Cai aims to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions in the crop sector by at least 15% compared to the base year of 2020. 70% of rice cultivation area will adopt emission-reducing farming techniques; and 60% of dryland crops such as tea and fruit trees will apply integrated plant health management (IPHM).
In the coming period, the unit will strengthen information and communication about the effectiveness of emission-reduction farming models and green agriculture; focus on training and capacity building for farmers; and enhance the capacity of grassroots agricultural extension officers to transmit advanced emission-reduction farming techniques implemented in practical conditions at the local level. At the same time, it will continue to build demonstration models so that farmers can directly participate in their implementation.
Mr. Luong Quang Thach - Deputy Director of the Center for Agricultural Extension and Services of Lao Cai Province
With a well-structured roadmap, clear tasks, clear responsibilities, and clear goals, the journey of agricultural development not only focuses on reducing emissions but also contributes to realizing Lao Cai's "green" development orientation – where the economic benefits of the people go hand in hand with environmental protection.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/no-luc-giam-thieu-phat-thai-trong-trong-trot-post891933.html
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