Integrating IPHM into the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project.

An Giang province is integrating IPHM (Integrated Pest Management System) into its 1 million-hectare high-quality rice project, aiming for green farming, reduced costs, and improved rice quality and branding.

Shift from protecting crops to nurturing ecosystems.

Following the administrative boundary merger, An Giang province is the leading rice-producing province in the Mekong Delta region thanks to its expanded land area and the full convergence of the region's ecological advantages. Accordingly, the province has identified a path towards developing green, high-quality, low-emission rice, choosing the Integrated Crop Health Management (IPHM) program as the technical "backbone" in implementing the Sustainable Development Plan for 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030.

Pilot rice fields participating in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project in An Giang province have integrated the IPHM program. Photo: Trung Chánh.

This is seen as a shift from "crop protection" to "ecosystem nurturing" in rice production. Ms. Nguyen Thi Le, Deputy Head of the Crop Production and Plant Protection Department of An Giang province, stated that IPHM inherits traditional IPM (Integrated Pest Management) but takes it a step further. Instead of focusing solely on pests, IPHM manages the entire health of the rice ecosystem, from soil, water, nutrients, diseases and pests to biodiversity.

The three core pillars of IPHM are the use of certified rice varieties, the application of integrated pest management, and the reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use. When implemented synchronously, farmers can save 15-20% of production costs, reduce environmental pollution, and improve food safety.

An Giang's scale and objectives are large enough to create a regional impact. The province currently has over 617,000 hectares of rice land with a cropping pattern including winter-spring, summer-autumn, autumn-winter, and main crop seasons, with over 1.35 million hectares planted each year, yielding 8.5-8.7 million tons. This figure not only affirms An Giang's position as the "rice granary of rice granaries" but also sets requirements for production according to national and international standards regarding emission reduction, traceability, and safety standards.

Linking the supply chain and enhancing the rice brand.

To ensure the effective implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPHM) in the fields, An Giang province is strengthening its training efforts. The goal is to have at least 5 national-level IPHM instructors, approximately 20 provincial-level instructors, and at least 2 IPHM officers assigned to each commune with a large production area to provide direct guidance. The on-the-job training model, following the rice plant life cycle (approximately 13 weeks), helps personnel and farmers identify the ecosystem and make decisions based on field observations, rather than relying on the habit of spraying preventative pesticides.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam (fourth from the left) and delegates visit a rice field participating in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project, which integrates the IPHM program, at Phu Hoa Cooperative in An Giang province. Photo: Trung Chanh.

Furthermore, strengthening the rice value chain linkage involves more cooperatives participating in the IPHM (Integrated Pest Management Program) connecting with businesses that provide guaranteed purchase agreements through a closed-loop process from seed, cultivation techniques, harvesting, drying, processing, and consumption. The benefits for all parties involved in the value chain include stable inputs, reduced costs, guaranteed outputs, and a fairer sharing of added value. In the long term, this will be the foundation for building the An Giang rice brand with high-quality seeds, production according to Vietnamese green rice standards, reduced emissions, and consistent quality management across batches.

IPHM is also key to achieving green growth goals. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides means reducing environmental pollution and balancing the ecosystem. Synchronized mechanization of production processes, the application of digital agriculture , and alternating wet-dry irrigation processes help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When the environment and public health improve, the "hidden" costs of the food system decrease, and the competitiveness of green-farmed Vietnamese rice will increase.

However, for IPHM (Integrated Pest Management) to spread widely and achieve breakthroughs, communication efforts need to be intensified. The construction of demonstration models comparing control plots with IPHM plots must be organized continuously so that farmers can clearly see the effectiveness. In particular, the agricultural extension, plant protection, and professional social organizations need to coordinate closely with farmers in the fields during each farming season.

When IPHM (Integrated Pest Management System) becomes a production standard rather than just a model, the 1 million hectare rice project in An Giang will have a solid foundation, farmers will profit, the environment will be protected, and the rice brand will be elevated. This is the path for An Giang to maintain its role as a leading force in sustainable rice production not only in the Mekong Delta but also nationwide.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tich-integrating-iphm-into-eating-1-million-ha-of-high-quality-rice-d782530.html