Fragrant gold in the rice granary of Lam Dong

High-quality ST25 rice and IR4625 glutinous rice are in their peak ripening season. The heavy, bent rice stalks, with their plump, firm grains, glisten in the morning sunlight.

Rice fields of IR4625 glutinous rice for export in Duc Linh. Photo: N. Lan

High-quality rice growing region

The rice-growing area along the La Ngà River stretches from Tánh Linh commune through Đồng Kho, Nam Thành to Đức Linh, Hoài Đức, covering approximately 25,000 hectares.

This area is considered the rice granary of the province because it has both a large concentration of rice cultivation and high yields and quality. Rice in this region is produced three or more times a year.

According to Mr. Trinh Cong Tu, an official from the Economic Department of Dong Kho commune: The total area of ​​rice production in Dong Kho commune is approximately 7,300 hectares annually; of which, the high-quality rice growing area is about 2,400 hectares. This year's summer-autumn crop alone saw Dong Kho planting about 2,500 hectares, including about 100 hectares of glutinous rice and high-quality ST25 rice.

Currently, within the commune, the Duc Lan Agricultural Service Cooperative mainly produces and processes ST25 rice using organic methods, covering an area of ​​approximately 40 hectares/3 crops annually. Two of its products have been recognized with 4 stars: Duc Lan - ST25 rice and Duc Lan - ST 25 brown rice.

In addition, there is the Giang Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative and the Dong Kho Cooperative Group, which produce rice seeds and guarantee the purchase of OM 5451 rice seeds in collaboration with Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company.

The annual cultivated area is approximately 85 hectares, of which the Giang Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative and its affiliated production groups account for about 63 hectares, and the company produces 22 hectares, including 12 hectares for propagating super-standard rice seeds to produce standard rice seeds. In addition, farmers in the commune also produce about 55 hectares of certified rice for seed production.

Affirming the position of the key rice-growing region.

From Dong Kho, I followed the inter-communal roads of Nam Thanh, Duc Linh, and Hoai Duc, admiring the high-quality rice fields, including glutinous rice for export. Looking at the hundreds of hectares of glutinous rice in the Duc Linh area preparing for harvest, I suddenly remembered 2017, when Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia - Director of Cong Thanh Agricultural Cooperative - brought the IR4625 glutinous rice variety from the Mekong Delta to cultivate in the Hoai Duc fields.

In the first year, farmers were invited to cooperate to produce enough rice to fulfill export contracts, but no one was interested because they were unfamiliar with the farming practices. However, when harvest time came, the ripe, heavy grains of sticky rice filled the entire area with a fragrant aroma, attracting curious farmers who gathered to watch the harvest.

Seeing that they could purchase the produce directly from the fields, that growing glutinous rice was more profitable than regular rice, that they were supplied with standard seeds, and that their products were guaranteed to be sold at market prices, hundreds of farmers voluntarily registered with the Cong Thanh Agricultural Cooperative to grow it.

To date, nearly 500 hectares of land in Nam Thanh, Duc Linh, Hoai Duc are used for growing glutinous rice for export.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia said: Currently, farmers in the area are covering the entire area with high-quality rice and glutinous rice. The cooperative annually supplies high-quality OM18 rice seeds and IR4625 glutinous rice seeds, and guarantees the purchase of the farmers' products for export. The cooperative alone has signed contracts with over 300 households to cultivate 250 hectares of glutinous rice and 300 hectares of OM18 rice to supply the domestic market and export to countries such as South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and India...

Because of the income, farmers are applying scientific and technological advancements in cultivation, investing in high-tech equipment to ensure their health during farming, culminating in the use of drones in rice production.

On the other hand, with the support of the government, farmers have linked up with scientists to obtain good seed sources and collaborated with businesses to secure product outlets... This five-party linkage in production has created a high-tech revolution for farmers in Lam Dong province's key rice-growing region, resulting in abundant harvests.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/vang-thom-o-vua-lua-lam-dong-389221.html