After completing the pilot model of the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, reducing emissions associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2023 (Project), Mr. Pham Hoang Tran in Long Duc commune (Long Phu district, Soc Trang province) was busy improving the land and sowing the 2024 Winter-Spring crop.
Mr. Tran said that in the last Summer-Autumn crop, he participated in the Project with an area of 3,000m2. During the cultivation process, with the support of mechanization, rice was sown and fertilized, reducing the amount of seeds to 60kg/ha (10kg less than row sowing), reducing 4 times of spraying pesticides and reducing over 40% of nitrogen fertilizer. Total input costs were reduced by 10-15%.
“The efficiency has helped reduce production costs and increase profits for rice growers. So this winter-spring crop, I boldly registered to participate on more than 2 hectares,” said Mr. Tran.
According to Mr. Tran, growing rice to reduce emissions also helps limit soil and water pollution, increases beneficial microorganisms, and is especially safe for both farmers and consumers.
Not far away, Mr. Huynh Van Chin's family also went to the field to sow more than 1 hectare of rice. Mr. Chin said that this was the first crop he participated in after seeing the effectiveness of previous rice-growing households that reduced emissions.
“Normally, the cost of sowing is 60,000 VND/1,000m2, and fertilizing is 20,000 VND. But when I joined the Project, I was supported 100% of the cost of sowing, 50% of seeds, and agricultural materials, so the input cost was greatly reduced. That is an attractive condition for many rice farmers like me to participate,” said Mr. Chin.
Mr. Truong Van Hung - Director of Hung Loi Agricultural Cooperative (Long Duc commune, Long Phu district, Soc Trang province) informed that in the 2024 Winter-Spring crop, the Cooperative has 50 hectares participating in the Project, the selected variety is ST25. The cultivation period is 105 days, harvested before Lunar New Year 2025.
Mr. Hung added that the 50 hectares of rice that were piloted in the project in the last Summer-Autumn crop, despite reducing seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, still achieved high yields of 6.5 - 7 tons/ha, with a selling price of 10,800 - 11,000 VND/kg. After deducting costs, the profit was 5.2 million VND higher than the outside model.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, in the 2024 Winter-Spring crop, the province will pilot 340 hectares of high-quality rice cultivation in localities. By 2025, the whole province will have 38,500 hectares and 76,000 hectares by 2030.
Similarly, in Can Tho City, there are 2 models in the Autumn-Winter and Winter-Spring crops with an area of 200 hectares. Tra Vinh province has 2 models in the Autumn-Winter crop of 2024 and Kien Giang province planted 1 model on 10.79 hectares of shrimp-rice land.
