Sustainable development of sugarcane growing areas

Sugarcane is one of the main crops contributing to the increased income of people in Thach Thanh district. However, in recent years, the economic efficiency of sugarcane has declined, and local people have converted areas of low-economic-efficiency sugarcane cultivation to more economically viable crops. Therefore, to live up to its reputation as the "capital" of sugarcane, Thach Thanh district has been implementing many solutions to maintain and develop a stable and sustainable sugarcane raw material area.

Sustainable development of sugarcane growing areas Sugarcane is grown in large-scale model fields in Thach Cam commune (Thach Thanh district). Photo: Le Hoa

Thach Cam is a commune located in the key sugarcane production area of Thach Thanh district, achieving high economic value. Annually, the commune cultivates nearly 300 hectares of sugarcane, in partnership with Vietnam-Taiwan Sugarcane Company Limited. To develop a high-yield, high-quality sugarcane production area, the local government has utilized funds to support investment in internal field transportation systems, repair irrigation pumping stations, and provide training to improve the production skills of local people. To date, 6.4 km of internal field roads have been paved, and over 7.7 km of irrigation canals have been concreted, contributing to improved production efficiency and agricultural product transportation. In addition, the commune People's Committee has supported and assigned the task of sustainably developing the sugarcane production area to the Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative.

Mr. Nguyen Van Doan, Director of Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative, said: "To capitalize on the advantage of being a traditional sugarcane growing area, the cooperative has mobilized resources and invested in machinery to mechanize sugarcane cultivation. Currently, the cooperative has 4 sprinkler irrigation machines and 1 sugarcane loading machine. During the planting season, the cooperative also collaborates to rent ultra-light UAVs to spray pesticides simultaneously on the sugarcane fields. As a result, in recent years, the total sugarcane production in the commune has tended to increase. In the 2023-2024 crop year, the total production reached approximately 21,368 tons, with an average yield of 73 tons/ha. Revenue from sugarcane production brought in about 26.7 billion VND, and the lives of the people have become stable thanks to sugarcane."

Reportedly, in the 2024-2025 crop year, Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative guided local people in cultivating approximately 337 hectares of sugarcane, an increase of 44 hectares compared to the same period. With investment in high-yield varieties such as KK3, Lam Son 1, etc., and the application of comprehensive mechanization in production, Thach Cam commune is striving to build a high-yield sugarcane growing area, with an estimated yield of 90 tons/ha, bringing the total production of the commune to over 30,000 tons, making sugarcane a key crop and providing high income for the people.

Not only in Thach Cam but also in many other localities such as Thanh Truc, Thanh Hung, Thach Son, Van Du town, etc., people are focusing on developing sugarcane raw material areas in a sustainable direction. Therefore, every year the District People's Committee not only focuses on organizing training courses to improve sugarcane production skills for local people but also promotes investment in infrastructure, implements synchronized mechanization in sugarcane production, and encourages people to consolidate and concentrate land to develop raw material areas. At the same time, it coordinates with Vietnam-Taiwan Sugarcane Company Limited to organize the purchase of raw sugarcane at high and stable prices, ensuring income for sugarcane farmers in the locality.

Currently, to ensure a sufficient supply of sugarcane for the 2024-2025 crushing season, Thach Thanh district has planted over 3,800 hectares of sugarcane, an increase of more than 10% compared to the previous season. Of this, 820 hectares are cultivated using intensive farming methods, applying comprehensive mechanization on large-scale model fields, generating revenue of over 120 million VND/hectare/year. To improve productivity and quality in sugarcane growing areas, the People's Committee of Thach Thanh district has directed communes and towns to encourage farmers to invest in intensive farming and apply comprehensive mechanization to production. At the same time, it has assigned agricultural cooperatives the task of organizing production, linking, and purchasing sugarcane from farmers. Most agricultural cooperatives are collaborating with Vietnam-Taiwan Sugarcane Company Limited to develop services providing deferred payment fertilizers, seeds, and production techniques to sugarcane growers. In addition, communes and towns have been focusing on building closely linked and sustainable production chains, ensuring a harmonious balance of interests between sugarcane growers and businesses; encouraging the formation of cooperatives and associations linked with businesses to invest in the development of large-scale sugarcane fields applying high technology to increase productivity and product quality.

Le Hoa

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