Finding solutions to expand the area of ​​specialized high-quality rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta.

On November 26th, in Hon Dat district ( Kien Giang province), the National Agricultural Extension Center, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, organized a demonstration of synchronized mechanization in rice sowing and a seminar on "Solutions for expanding high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation areas associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta". Recently, Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank, HOSE: SSB) was honored to be named the Best Places To Work 2024 in Vietnam by Anphabe and the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). The Government Office recently issued Document No. 8726/VPCP-KGVX dated November 26, 2024, conveying the directives of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh regarding the Lunar New Year holiday and some other holidays in 2025. 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The signatory units are implementing the expansion of specialized high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation areas linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta region.

According to a report from the National Agricultural Extension Center, the project to cultivate 1 million hectares of high-quality rice has been implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in coordination with localities, organizations, and businesses. Seven pilot models have been carried out in five provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region, including Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Can Tho, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh .

Summary from the 5 pilot provinces shows that the yield of the 2024 Summer-Autumn crop reached 6.3 - 6.6 tons/ha, 0.2 - 0.7 tons/ha higher than outside the model. The yield of the Autumn-Winter crop reached 6.2 - 6.5 tons/ha, 0.4 tons/ha higher than the control outside the model.

Total input costs decreased by 10-15% compared to the control; seed quantity decreased by 40-50%; pesticide spraying decreased by 3-4 times; and irrigation water consumption decreased by approximately 30-40%. Economic efficiency increased by 2.3-7.6 million VND/ha compared to areas outside the model; greenhouse gas emissions decreased by an average of 5.0-6.0 tons of CO2 equivalent/ha.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, commented: To expand the area for implementing the project, participating localities need to unify and correctly implement the cultivation process that has been applied by localities and farmers in the pilot models recently, as well as the participation and linkage of businesses, and orientation towards rice consumption.

According to Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, the linkage between stakeholders implementing the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project plays a crucial role in achieving the criteria, enhancing the value and brand of rice in the Mekong Delta and the whole country. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to form specific linkages between stakeholders participating in the project; localities need to focus on training to improve the capacity and professional skills of staff in community agricultural extension groups; and at the same time, have appropriate financial support policies to ensure they can work with peace of mind and are committed to supporting farmers to cultivate most effectively.

“ Local authorities should strengthen information and communication efforts to encourage farmers to actively participate. Because only when farmers actively participate, along with the cooperation of businesses and all levels of government, can we effectively implement projects in particular, and the 1 million hectare high-quality, low-emission rice project associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta in general,” said Mr. Le Quoc Thanh.

Delegates attend the launching ceremony and demonstration of synchronized mechanization in rice planting.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, said: With a rice cultivation area of ​​approximately 395,000 hectares, accounting for 62% of the province's natural area, rice has long been the province's main crop. Annual production exceeds 4.4 million tons, with 2024 rice production reaching approximately 4.6 million tons (accounting for nearly 20% of the Mekong Delta's rice production). However, in recent years, the complex and unpredictable nature of natural disasters, climate change, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion, along with existing shortcomings and limitations in agricultural production linkages, have led to the recurring cycle of "good harvest, low prices; high prices, poor harvest," becoming a heavy burden for the people and localities.

Prime Minister's Decision No. 1490 approving the Project "Sustainable Development of 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Specialization Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" will help reorganize the production system along the value chain, apply sustainable farming processes to increase the value and sustainable development of the rice industry, improve production and business efficiency, income and living standards of rice farmers, protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Implementing the 1 million hectare project, Kien Giang province deployed two pilot models in two different ecological zones (as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development); one model in Tan Hiep district has yielded encouraging results. The yield of the row sowing + fertilization model reached 5.43 tons/ha, cluster sowing + fertilization reached 5.26 tons/ha, drone sowing reached 5.0 tons/ha, and the control reached 4.89 tons/ha, with a yield difference of 340 kg/ha between the demonstration and control models.

The cost of the demonstration plot decreased by over 3.3 million VND, and the profit was over 25 million VND/ha, an increase of more than 6 million VND/ha compared to the control group and a 32% increase compared to the area outside the model. The results showed a reduction in emissions of 7.56 to 8.11 tons of CO2 equivalent per hectare in the pilot model. One remaining 10-hectare model in the shrimp-rice farming area of ​​Dong Thanh commune, An Minh district, currently has rice plants in the heading and flowering stages, developing well.

Kien Giang province aims to implement the project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta" by 2025, reaching 100,000 hectares and 200,000 hectares by 2030, striving to achieve this goal one year earlier.

In implementing the pilot models in the province, some difficulties were encountered due to a lack of machinery and equipment for centralized sowing; some farmers were still hesitant to change their production and cultivation mindset. Given this situation, the province has intensified propaganda efforts and mobilized support from localities and businesses to ensure the successful implementation of the pilot project.

As one of the units collaborating with the National Agricultural Extension Center to implement projects, Mr. Ho The Huy - Deputy Director of Marketing at Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, said that in order to expand the specialized area of ​​high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta, it is necessary to strengthen activities to summarize and evaluate the implementation and replication of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation models in localities to propose appropriate solutions.

“At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the guidance of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of the provinces to their subordinate units in implementing activities at the local level; the agricultural extension system, especially grassroots agricultural extension, needs to play a core role in the implementation of the Project; and strengthen coordination and cooperation between agricultural extension, localities and businesses,” Mr. Ho The Huy said.

New opportunities for rice farmers.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/tim-giai-phap-mo-rong-vung-chuyen-canh-lua-chat-luong-cao-vung-dbscl-1732624132834.htm