Can Tho50 hectares of pilot high-quality rice cultivation yielded 0.4-0.5 tons more than normal cultivation, helping to increase profits by 1.3-6.2 million VND per hectare.
On July 8, the pilot model of cultivating 50 hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice at Tien Thuan Cooperative (Thanh An Commune, Vinh Thanh District) completed harvesting, after more than 3 months of planting. This is the first pilot model of the project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta.
Harvesting rice in a pilot model using a combine harvester, July 8. Photo: Peaceful
The pilot area uses OM 545 rice variety, sowing by machine combined with burying fertilizer; watering, fertilizing in specialized areas; integrated pest management, harvesting by combine harvester. After harvest, straw is taken out of the field to be used as mushroom or organic fertilizer.
Mr. Nguyen Cao Khai, Director of Tien Thuan Cooperative, said that the model reduces the use of rice seeds from 140 kg to 60 kg per hectare, reduces the number of times of fertilization from 3-4 times to 2 times per crop, reduces the amount of inorganic fertilizer by at least 20%, reduces the risk of rice falling, reduces diseases and post-harvest losses… After harvest, rice is guaranteed to be consumed at a price 200-300 VND higher per kg than normal farming.
During the pilot implementation process, Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, senior expert of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said that reducing the amount of rice seeds to 60 kg per hectare helps save VND1.2 million in seed costs, VND0.7 million in fertilizer costs; productivity reaches 6.3-6.5 tons per hectare compared to 5.8-6.1 tons per hectare in the traditional method.
“In terms of economic efficiency, rice fields implementing the project increased profits by 1.3-6.2 million VND per hectare. As for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the pilot model resulted in a reduction of 2-6 tons of CO2e (a unit of measurement of greenhouse gas equivalent to CO2) per hectare compared to control fields…”, Mr. Hung said.
Transporting harvested rice from the field to the warehouse for drying. Photo: Peaceful
Mr. Cao Duc Phat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, expects the emission-reducing rice cultivation model to spread throughout the Mekong Delta. This will help farmers have better income and life, while fulfilling Vietnam’s international commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change…
The Project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice was approved by the Prime Minister at the end of 2023. The program aims to sustainably develop Vietnam’s rice industry and farmers’ income, adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the implementation of international commitments.
By 2025, 12 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta will plant 180,000 hectares of low-emission rice and pilot carbon crediting for areas that meet standards. By 2030, the region will expand by 820,000 hectares of low-carbon rice…
According to the project implementation unit, the application of carbon credit sales will be applied in the coming time, after completing three consecutive pilot models of rice production in Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Kien Giang and Dong Thap.
Currently, each year the Western provinces produce 24-25 million tons of rice, accounting for more than 50% of the country’s rice output and over 90% of the country’s rice exports.
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