Forming an organic material area
Although Lieu Tu commune owns a large rice production area (nearly 11,000 hectares), with a total annual output of up to 66,000 tons, the consumption of agricultural products here is still limited. The main reason is the lack of production linkages and the absence of rice processing plants in the locality.
To overcome this reality, the commune government has invited businesses to invest in the local rice value chain. As a result, after only a short time, the commune has attracted 2 large enterprises.
According to the plan, Toan Cau Organic Clean Agriculture Group Limited will invest in the ST25 organic rice area, with a scale of 100 hectares in the commune, for 5 years and implement the agricultural insurance policy. In particular, in the first year, the unit will purchase rice at a price 1,000 VND/kg higher than the market and increase over the years. By the fourth year, when rice quality is basically at organic standards, the purchase price will double the market price.
This attractive policy makes Mr. Lam Cuol - Director of 1/5 Agricultural Cooperative (Tra Ong Hamlet, Lieu Tu Commune) and many farmers excited. From there, it motivates them to be more determined to switch to growing organic rice.
According to Mr. Cuol, when rice reaches organic quality, profits no longer depend much on productivity. "The requirement is only to reach about 600 kg/1,300 m2 for the people to have a profit. We will try to produce organic rice to increase profits, while combining agricultural tourism. With guaranteed output, rice farmers will certainly make high profits, said Mr. Cuol.
Agricultural tourism
Meanwhile, Minh Long Investment, Development and Transportation Company Limited (Minh Long Company) plans to invest in building a rice processing factory and implementing a model of agricultural tourism on the commune's organic rice area.
Mr. Nguyen Le Trung Dung - Executive Director of Minh Long Company - informed that with a total estimated investment capital of up to 50 billion VND, the rice processing factory will be equipped with modern lines such as drying machines, blenders, color separation, automatic packaging with a capacity of 20,000 tons of rice/year.
Accordingly, the enterprise will directly purchase ST25 organic rice from the raw material area in the commune to process rice on site, serving export to the Philippines, Malaysia, the Middle East, Africa... with the brand name " ST 25 Lieu Tu Rice".
In particular, taking advantage of this advantage of organic agricultural production, the company will deploy the Green Rice agricultural tourism model in Lieu Tu. It is expected that the enterprise will renovate the roads, build homestays for resorts, open rice planting and harvesting experience services, make local folk cakes, enjoy the cuisine of the Khmer people and dishes from ST25 organic rice...
This model promises to create stable jobs for 50 - 70 local workers, contributing to increasing budget revenue, promoting the economy and society in the commune.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen - Permanent Vice Chairman of Lieu Tu Commune People's Committee - assessed that in addition to increasing income, the model will create new changes in people's awareness of the environment, landscape, and rural transportation to attract more tourists to the locality. In order for the project to be implemented as soon as possible, the People's Committee of the commune has directed specialized units to coordinate with cooperatives and farmers to carry out related work.
