More high-quality rice varieties take root in the Muong Than fields.

(BLC) - The Than Uyên District Agricultural Service Center, in coordination with ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company (Phu Tho Branch), recently organized a field conference to evaluate the results of implementing a demonstration model of the high-quality purebred rice variety BC15 and the new hybrid rice variety Thai Xuyen 111 in En Noi village (Muong Than commune). The successful model contributes to effectively exploiting the potential and advantages of the locality, increasing income for the people.

The rice fields of Én Nọi village (Mường Than commune) were selected to implement a demonstration model of the new rice varieties BC15 and Thái Xuyên 111, covering an area of 2.2 hectares. Both rice varieties were planted in mid-January 2023, with the participation of 16 households in Én Nọi village. Participating households received 100% support in terms of seeds, fungicide for rice blast disease, and training in planting techniques and pest control.

District leaders, leaders from communes and towns, and representatives from several specialized agencies of the district and province visited the demonstration model.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hop, Head of the Branch of ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company, said: "BC15 rice variety is a high-yielding pure rice variety, copyrighted by ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company. Recognized as a national variety in 2008, it is a temperature-sensitive rice variety with wide adaptability, tolerant to intensive cultivation, with a growth period of 130-140 days for the winter-spring crop, an average yield of 70-75 quintals/hectare, and with good intensive cultivation, it can reach 90-100 quintals/hectare. BC15 produces good quality rice, with long, translucent grains, white, shiny, soft, and flavorful cooked rice."

Thai Xuyen 111 is also a temperature-sensitive rice variety, widely adaptable, tolerant to intensive cultivation, fairly resistant to blast disease, and only slightly susceptible to bacterial leaf blight. The rice quality is good, with translucent grains, soft cooked rice, and a mild aroma. The average yield of the Thai Xuyen 111 hybrid rice variety is 70-80 quintals/hectare, and with good intensive cultivation, it can reach 90-100 quintals/hectare. To comprehensively evaluate the yield and quality of the new BC15 and Thai Xuyen 111 rice varieties, when implementing the demonstration model, we selected Bac Thom No. 7 and Nhi Uu 838 as control varieties, respectively.

In recent times, Than Uyên district has proactively conducted trials of many new rice varieties with high yields and good quality. These varieties are particularly adaptable to unusual weather conditions and increasingly complex pest and disease situations. Mr. Do Ngoc Tu, Director of the Than Uyên District Agricultural Services Center, stated: The unit is collaborating with ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company to implement a demonstration model of the high-quality purebred rice variety BC15 and the hybrid rice variety Thai Xuyen 111, with the aim of finding new solutions to contribute to food security and create a breakthrough in food production towards a commercial scale.

During the trial, at the beginning of the winter-spring season, the BC15 and Thai Xuyen 111 rice varieties showed some pest and disease damage such as: neck blast, brown spot disease, stem borer, and planthopper infestation, all of which were mildly affected, similar to the control variety. We instructed farmers to apply pesticides once to control these pests and diseases. The results of the model showed that both BC15 and Thai Xuyen 111 rice varieties had a higher total number of grains and a higher number of filled grains compared to the control variety. Economic analysis showed that the new BC15 variety yielded a higher profit than the control variety Bac Thom No. 7 by nearly 6.9 million VND/ha. The new Thai Xuyen 111 variety yielded a higher profit than the control variety Nhi Uu 838 by 5,490,000 VND/ha.

Delegates attending the field conference discussed the yield, quality, and suitability of the rice varieties being demonstrated.

Ms. Lo Thi Son from En Noi village happily said: "My family planted BC15 rice variety on an area of about 3,500 square meters. After one crop season, we found that this rice variety doesn't require too much technical expertise in cultivation. When we detected signs of blast disease, we sprayed pesticides and saw immediate results. The high yield and production of this rice variety is an important factor for my family to expand our production area in the coming seasons."

The results of these models serve as a foundation for Than Uyên district to continue using these rice varieties in subsequent production seasons. To expand the cultivation area of the new BC15 and Thái Xuyên 111 rice varieties, farmers also hope for coordinated implementation and replication of the models, and the creation of linkages from production to product consumption.

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