Many experts suggest the need to increase the value of rice grains and utilize agricultural by-products instead of increasing crops and chasing output, which carries many potential risks.
The idea of increasing the crop was given by Professor Vo Tong Xuan in the context of rising rice prices, farmers’ profits nearly doubled compared to before. As a leading agricultural scientist in Vietnam, Mr. Xuan said that with improved production levels and the application of science and technology, short-term varieties can help farmers work four crops a year, increasing their income. However, adding crops needs to be applied appropriately to each locality, and should only be done in years of extreme weather and risk of food shortages.
However, some people do not agree with the proposal to increase the rice crop to 4, but should reduce the rice crop, intercropping will be more effective. Specifically, instead of producing three rice crops as before, some farmers in Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province, switched to growing two rice crops and one fish crop, combined with opening tourist attractions in the flood season. The 20 hectare field just planted ST 25 rice seed, the field owner released more ducks to kill pests. Farmers gradually switched to organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers, helping the soil stay healthy and rice productivity increasing after each crop.
Growing rice combined with raising ducks and fish helps farmers have a stable income without having to produce three crops a year. Image: Tran Thanh
Mr. Lam Trong Nghia, Deputy Director of Tam Nong District Agricultural Service Center, said that after more than a year of implementation, the results showed that farmers reduced production costs by 20-25% due to reducing fertilizers and protective chemicals. plants (from 6-8 spraying times to 3-4 times). Clean rice is consumed by businesses, the price is 1,000 VND per kg higher than the market, increasing the profit per crop to 35 million VND per hectare.
In addition, at the end of each crop, farmers sell ducks for an additional profit of 20 million VND, and use straw to compost straw mushrooms. After two rice crops, the flood-prone field owner let the land rest and lured wild fish into farming, combined with opening a tourist spot in the flood season, experiencing cuisine from field fish, rustic dishes… Results, money Profits from fish and tourism add more than 200 million VND. “Farmers participating in the model understand that reducing costs and taking advantage of multiple revenue sources will provide more sustainable income than chasing output,” Mr. Nghia said.
A World Bank (WB) report on the topic of green agriculture points out that converting from monoculture of rice to intercropping model (aquaculture, fruits, vegetables) brings higher income to farmers. . Specifically, field owners only earn 40-50 million VND in profit per year per hectare of rice, but it will double if they intercrop rice – vegetables, rice – aquaculture, and create more jobs.
“450,000-550,000 hectares of rice land in the Eastern Mekong Delta region can be converted to alternative uses or rotation of rice, other crops and aquaculture without much impact on rice production of the region”, WB commented.
Western farmers harvest rice. Image: Nguyet Nhi
Increasing quality to sell rice at higher prices is also targeted by some businesses instead of increasing crops. Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Nam, Director of Trung An Kien Giang High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, said that 10 years ago the business was conscious of producing delicious, quality rice with strict standards from importers. .
Thanks to the above professional method, Trung An Kien Giang’s rice always sells well. The enterprise also signed contracts to supply materials and cover thousands of hectares of output with farmers in Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces. At the end of the season, the cocoa company committed to buying 300 VND per kg higher than the market. “Rice exported to Europe or the US costs 40-50% or even double compared to other markets. It is important to maintain reputation for long-term business,” Mr. Nam said.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhi, former Chairman of An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, who devoted a lot of enthusiasm to agriculture, shared that in addition to export, the domestic market also prefers delicious, quality rice. “Gone are the days of eating well and dressing warmly. Domestic consumers are willing to spend more money to eat better, healthier rice,” he said, adding that he wants to sell rice at high prices, in addition to transparency. In the production stage, businesses need to take care and build their brand.
Enhancing the value of rice grains is also a consistent viewpoint of the sustainable development project of one million hectares of high-quality rice, being implemented in the Mekong Delta. The project offers solutions for sustainable farming, including: reducing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water; Utilizing rice straw and building an export rice brand… The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects that by 2030, one million farmers will participate in the project to increase profits by 50% compared to before.
Ngoc Tai – Hoang Nam