Strengthening links between farmers and businesses to enhance the rice value chain

Recently, the implementation of the Project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030" (1 million hectare rice project) in Can Tho city has achieved many positive results. The pilot models implementing the 1 million hectare rice project have contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing production efficiency and increasing profits for farmers. However, farmers really need support from the relevant authorities, especially in connecting with businesses to strengthen value chain linkages.

Harvesting rice and collecting straw by machine at the high-quality and low-emission rice production model in Dai Ngai commune, Can Tho city.

Positive results

According to the Can Tho City Farmers' Association, the area participating in the 1 million hectare rice project in the city is currently over 104,000 hectares, with 191 cooperatives and cooperative groups participating. The pilot models have increased productivity by 0.3-0.7 tons/ha, reduced the amount of seeds sown by 40-50%, reduced the amount of nitrogen fertilizer by over 30%, reduced 2-3 times of spraying pesticides, increased profits by at least 20%, and reduced emissions by 2-12 tons of CO2/ha compared to conventional production.

Mr. Nguyen Van Su, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Can Tho City, said: “Many cooperatives and cooperatives have boldly applied production processes according to low emission standards, combined with the use of organic microbial fertilizers, biological drugs, economical water management and electronic notebook recording during the production process. This not only aims to improve production efficiency but also protect the environment. Notably, the awareness of farmers and businesses has changed significantly, from individual production to value chain linkage, focusing on quality standards, food safety and requirements for a green, clean and sustainable market.”

Despite the encouraging results, the implementation of the Project in the city still faces many difficulties and limitations. In particular, small-scale, fragmented production is still a major barrier. Many cooperatives participate, but the number of those meeting the standards for sustainable chain linkage is still low. The value chain linkage between enterprises and farmers is not sustainable. In particular, the management capacity of cooperatives and the technical level of farmers are still uneven, some still produce according to old practices, are afraid of changing processes, leading to low efficiency.

In fact, farmers still lack information and knowledge about rice cultivation according to the process of the 1 million hectare rice project, and have limited access to and application of new machinery and technology in production. To improve the sustainable value chain, farmers need support from the relevant authorities in connecting with units and enterprises that guarantee output and provide machinery, technology and input materials.

According to Mr. Phan Van Han of Dong Xuan Cooperative, Co Do Commune, Can Tho City, farmers of cooperatives really need many businesses to join in the association to replicate and quickly develop high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation models, especially in product consumption. Currently, farmers still have difficulty connecting with units and businesses.

Care and support for farmers

Can Tho City Farmers' Association has just coordinated with the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City and Thanh Phu Commune to organize a workshop on "Solutions to improve the value chain of rice and protect the environment". At this workshop, Can Tho City Farmers' Association and many functional agencies of the city and locality affirmed that in the coming time, they will strengthen the synchronous implementation of many solutions to promote and support farmers and related parties to implement the 1 million hectare rice project. Focus on promoting training, coaching, supporting farmers to connect with businesses and related parties to strengthen value chain linkages. Create favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to access capital, apply machinery, technical advances, new technologies and optimal solutions in using natural resources and by-products to increase added value in the whole chain and sustainable production.

At the workshop, many units and businesses also committed to accompany farmers of cooperatives and cooperative groups in developing high-quality and low-emission rice production. The companionship of businesses in the value chain from input to output is the decisive factor in forming sustainable links, ensuring farmers' peace of mind in production.

According to Mr. Pham Thai Binh , Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, Can Tho City, over the past years, the company has linked production and consumption of rice for farmers in Can Tho City and many provinces in the Mekong Delta through the large-scale field model and now continues to accompany farmers in implementing the 1 million hectare rice project. The company will continue to provide input materials to farmers until the end of the crop to collect money, and at the same time support machinery, technology and rice consumption services for farmers. High-quality rice produced by farmers will be purchased by the company at a high price, especially meeting export standards to Europe, Japan and the US. The company has been applying a 3-level price mechanism, with purchase prices higher than the market from 200 VND, 300 VND and 500 VND/kg depending on the quality of rice.

Cooperation and association are decisive orders for rice to go far. This is not only an opportunity to improve the quality of rice production but also an important turning point to restructure the rice industry towards modernity, sustainability, reducing emissions and increasing added value. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Su, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Can Tho City, the Association will step up propaganda and mobilization work to help farmers understand the goals, contents and benefits of the 1 million hectare rice project, considering this a key political task associated with the development of the local agricultural economy. Strengthen coordination with the agricultural sector, institutes, schools and enterprises in training and transferring science and technology, especially low-emission rice production processes, saving water, using organic fertilizers, applying digital technology in field management and traceability. Support the development of new-style agricultural cooperatives, linking farmers along the value chain, building concentrated raw material areas associated with enterprises for consumption, processing and export. The Farmers' Association will act as a bridge, supporting farmers in accessing green credit capital, State support policies and international projects related to sustainable agriculture.

Article and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/that-chat-lien-ket-giua-nong-dan-va-doanh-nghiep-de-nang-cao-chuoi-gia-tri-lua-gao-a193543.html