Eliminate weed worries in rice paddies with Sofit®300EC

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

On November 13th, Syngenta Vietnam organized a scientific workshop on "Weed Management in Rice Fields" in Dong Thap, attracting over 70 technical experts in the rice sector in the Mekong Delta. The event aimed to share advanced weed management solutions, particularly weed management from the early stages of the crop using Sofit®300EC – one of the key solutions in the current sustainable rice farming strategy.

A scientific workshop on managing weeds in rice fields was held in Dong Thap province with the participation of 70 experts in the field of rice cultivation. Photo: Ngoc Han.

Weed-growing rice - a major challenge in farming.

Vietnam is one of the world's leading rice producers and exporters. The Mekong Delta region contributes over 50% of the country's rice production 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 wild rice, are becoming one of the most serious challenges for rice farmers.

According to agricultural experts, weeds and other grass species have biological characteristics very similar to rice plants: they grow at the same time, have a rapid growth rate, and compete for light, nutrients, and water from the early stages of the growing season. With their ability to shed seeds early and persist in the soil for a long time, weeds can reappear for many consecutive seasons if not properly managed. In many cases, farmers only discover weeds when the plants have grown taller than the cultivated rice, making late treatment both labor-intensive and detrimental to yield. This is why advanced weed management solutions are necessary, especially proactive solutions implemented from the beginning of the growing season.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Nguyen The Cuong, Head of the Agronomy Department at the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, said: “One of the major challenges in rice cultivation today is the emergence and strong growth of weeds and wild rice. Wild rice directly competes with rice plants for nutrients, light, and living space, affecting rice yield. It is necessary to manage wild rice early in the season to eradicate it completely and protect field yield.”

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

Syngenta's Sofit®300EC solution

In the context of rice weeds being a problem for farmers who still struggle to find effective control solutions, during the past winter-spring and summer-autumn 2025 seasons, Syngenta Vietnam collaborated 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 rice weed management solutions in the fields.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, M.Sc. - Commercial Technical Director of Syngenta Vietnam: "Sofit is an effective weed management solution for rice fields right from the beginning of the season, helping farmers cultivate with peace of mind and ensuring optimal yields for their fields."

Trials showed a clear difference in the early stages of the crop: trials using Sofit®300EC resulted in better aeration of the rice fields, faster root development and concentrated tillering, more uniform plant growth, and easier management in subsequent stages.

Experts from Syngenta Vietnam provide a deeper analysis of Sofit®300EC as a tool for managing rice weeds right from the start of the season, targeting weeds from the seedling stage in the soil. When applied early in the season, Sofit®300EC creates a "protective barrier" on the soil surface, impacting weed seedlings as they begin to develop, helping to aerate the field in the first few days after sowing. This is also the most crucial stage for rice to root, tiller, and establish a competitive advantage in growth. Thanks to clean fields from the beginning, rice plants have better conditions for uniform development, reducing the need for late intervention in later stages. Cultivating from clean fields also helps farmers manage the crop more easily, reducing labor pressure and limiting material waste.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, M.Sc. - Commercial Technical Director of Syngenta Vietnam, shared his insights at the workshop. Photo: Ngoc Han.

Mr. Minh further emphasized: “A successful harvest doesn't just depend on seeds or fertilizers, but starts with a clean field from the very beginning. We believe that managing weeds in rice fields at the start of the season with scientific solutions is not just about protecting the yield of one season, but a long-term strategy to increase production efficiency, reduce cost burdens, and help farmers sustainably take control of their fields.”

30 years of sharing knowledge through the fields.

Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Syngenta Group, one of the world's leading agricultural companies in the fields of agrochemicals and seeds. Syngenta pursues a mission to ensure global food security and protect the environment through advanced technological solutions, helping farmers use resources efficiently and improve the quality of agricultural products. Present in more than 100 countries, Syngenta continuously promotes innovation to reinvent sustainable agriculture.

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

The workshop concluded with the expectation that Sofit®300EC will become one of the tools to help farmers proactively manage rice weeds from the beginning of the season, helping rice plants thrive from the field and bringing about more sustainable harvests.

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