Overcoming obstacles to accelerate on the "green track"

Rice is a cornerstone industry ensuring national food security, stabilizing the livelihoods of millions of farmers, and playing a crucial role in Vietnam's agricultural exports. In the context of increasingly demanding export markets, the rice industry is heavily impacted by climate change, requiring farmers to shift production towards green, clean, and emission-reducing practices. The rice industry needs to promote the application of scientific and technological advancements and innovation in production and business to improve the quality, value, and competitiveness of its products. In particular, the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Project for One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation in the Mekong Delta by 2030 (the One Million Hectare Rice Project) is a key solution for the rice industry to reorganize production effectively, overcome limitations, and develop towards green and sustainable growth.

In many places, farmers collect straw after harvest using straw baling machines for processing and use.

In reality, participating in the One Million Hectare Rice Project has helped farmers improve production efficiency and increase income by transforming production towards modern, sustainable methods that adapt to climate change. From high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation models, Vietnam has produced over 70,000 tons of rice labeled "Green Vietnamese Rice, Low Emission," making Vietnam the first country to produce and export low-carbon rice on a large scale.

Over the two years of implementing the Project, the area of ​​high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta has reached 354,839 hectares, significantly exceeding the planned target. Farmers' production mindset is gradually changing towards increasing value, reducing emissions, and protecting the environment. Sustainable farming practices such as advanced irrigation water management, rational fertilizer use, and straw treatment are being increasingly widely applied. Pilot models of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation guided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment have achieved impressive results. Farmers' profits have increased by an average of 6 million VND/hectare/crop thanks to reduced costs, increased productivity, quality, and selling price of the product. Greenhouse gas emissions have been significantly reduced by decreasing the amount of seeds sown, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, and limiting straw burning in the fields.

However, promoting the expansion and development of high-quality, low-emission rice-growing areas still faces obstacles due to limited irrigation infrastructure and a lack of mechanized machinery in many places. The management capacity of cooperatives remains weak, and they struggle to access new technologies and green credit. Very few businesses participate in linking and purchasing rice from farmers, as well as buying straw and connecting to develop straw production and business activities to help farmers overcome the problem of burning straw in the fields. These are difficulties that need to be addressed promptly.

The initial positive results from the implementation of the One Million Hectare Rice Project in the Mekong Delta over the past two years have affirmed the correctness and necessity of this project in restructuring the rice industry to meet the requirements of increasing value and sustainable development. Many rice-exporting countries around the world are learning from Vietnam's approach to enhance the competitiveness of their products. This requires the Vietnamese rice industry to focus on overcoming difficulties to accelerate its progress on the "green race track." It is crucial to seize opportunities to expand product markets and affirm the reputation and brand image of "Green, Low-Emission Rice" in the international market.

Text and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/thao-go-kho-khan-de-tang-toc-บน-duong-dua-xanh--a203604.html