'Erase' the worry of weedy rice with Sofit®300EC

Mekong Delta Sofit®300EC helps farmers proactively manage weedy rice from the beginning of the season, creating clean fields, increasing productivity and moving towards sustainable rice cultivation in the current context.

On November 13, Syngenta Vietnam organized a Scientific Workshop on “Weedy Rice Management in the Field” in Dong Thap, attracting the participation of more than 70 technical experts in the rice sector in the Mekong Delta. The event aimed to share advanced weedy rice management solutions, especially weedy rice management right from the early stages of the crop using Sofit®300EC - one of the important solutions in the current sustainable rice farming strategy.

The scientific workshop on Weedy Rice Management in the Field took place in Dong Thap with the participation of 70 experts in the rice field. Photo: Ngoc Han.

Weedy rice - a big challenge in farming

Vietnam is one of the world’s leading rice producers and exporters. The Mekong Delta region contributes more than 50% of the country’s rice output and plays a central role in ensuring national food security and the global rice supply chain. However, along with climate change, agricultural labor shortages and rising input costs, weeds, especially weedy rice, are becoming one of the most serious challenges for rice growers.

According to agricultural experts, weedy rice and grass species have biological characteristics similar to rice plants: growing at the same time, growing rapidly, competing for light, nutrients and water right from the beginning of the crop. With the ability to shed seeds early and persist in the soil for a long time, weedy rice can reappear many consecutive crops if not managed properly. In many cases, farmers only discover weedy rice when the plants have grown taller than the cultivated rice, making late treatment both laborious and affecting productivity. This is the reason for the need for advanced weedy rice management solutions, especially proactive solutions from the beginning of the crop.

Sharing at the workshop, Dr. Nguyen The Cuong - Head of the Department of Agronomy, Mekong Delta Rice Institute, said: “One of the major challenges in rice cultivation today is the emergence and strong development of weeds and weedy rice. Weedy rice competes directly with rice plants for nutrients, light and living space, affecting rice productivity. Weedy rice must be managed early in the season to completely eradicate weedy rice and protect field productivity.”

Dr. Nguyen The Cuong - Head of the Department of Agronomy, Mekong Delta Rice Institute, shared the test results of SOFIT®300EC in managing early-season weedy rice. Photo: Ngoc Han.

Sofit ®300EC solution from Syngenta

In the context that weedy rice is a subject that farmers still have difficulty finding effective control solutions for, in the recent winter-spring and summer-autumn crops of 2025, Syngenta Vietnam has coordinated with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute and the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Dong Thap province to conduct trials to evaluate the effectiveness of weedy rice management solutions in the fields.

According to MSc. Nguyen Van Minh - Technical and Commercial Director of Syngenta Vietnam, "Sofit is an effective solution for managing weedy rice in the fields right from the beginning of the season, helping farmers feel secure in their cultivation, ensuring optimal productivity for the fields."

Trials show a clear difference in the early stages of the crop: trials using Sofit ®300EC resulted in well-ventilated rice fields, rice that took root quickly and tillered in a concentrated manner, rice plants grew more evenly and were easier to manage in the following stages.

Experts from Syngenta Vietnam further analyzed Sofit®300EC as a tool to manage weedy rice right from the beginning of the crop, approaching weedy rice right from the germination stage in the soil. When treated at the beginning of the crop, Sofit®300EC creates a layer of “protective barrier” on the soil surface, affecting weedy rice sprouts when they begin to develop, helping the field to be airy in the first days after sowing. This is also the most important stage for rice to take root, tiller and establish a competitive advantage in growth. Thanks to clean fields from the beginning, rice plants have more uniform development conditions, reducing the need for late intervention in the later stages. Cultivation from clean fields also helps farmers manage crops more easily, reducing labor pressure and limiting material waste.

MSc. Nguyen Van Minh - Technical and Commercial Director of Syngenta Vietnam shared at the workshop. Photo: Ngoc Han.

Mr. Minh also emphasized: “A successful crop does not only depend on seeds or fertilizers, but also starts with a clean field from the very first days. We believe that managing weeds in the early season with scientific solutions is not only a matter of protecting the yield of a season, but also a long-term strategy to increase production efficiency, reduce cost burdens and help farmers sustainably manage their fields.”

30 years of sharing knowledge through the fields

Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. is a member of Syngenta Group, one of the world's leading agricultural companies in the field of agricultural chemicals and seeds. Syngenta pursues the mission of ensuring global food security and protecting the environment with advanced technology solutions, helping farmers use resources efficiently and improve the quality of agricultural products. Present in more than 100 countries, Syngenta constantly promotes innovation to regenerate sustainable agriculture.

During its 30-year journey in Vietnam, Syngenta is committed to continuing to cooperate with partners in the rice value chain, including distribution systems, cooperatives and local technical units, to expand demonstration models across different ecological zones. Sharing knowledge and practical experience through field models is the way Syngenta supports farmers to access advanced farming methods in the most intuitive and effective way.

The workshop ended with the expectation that Sofit®300EC will become one of the tools to help farmers proactively manage weedy rice right from the beginning of the season, helping the rice plants to be healthy from the ground and bringing more sustainable crops.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/xoa-noi-lo-lua-co-voi-sofit300ec-d784115.html