Prevent shortage of rice seeds for the 2021 - 2022 winter-spring crop

Risk of a shortage of 50,000 tons of rice seeds

In the coming 2021-2022 winter-spring crop, the Mekong Delta will sow about 1.5 million ha. In which, early sowing will be 250,000 - 300,000 ha in October 2021 to avoid drought and saltwater intrusion that may occur in coastal provinces. In addition, in November and December 2021, approximately 600,000 ha will be sown each month and a small part of the remaining area will be sown in January 2022.

With said planting area, it is estimated that the demand for rice seeds for the whole 2021 - 2022 winter-spring crop will be approximately 200,000 tons. On the other hand, rice seed production and trading companies along with the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute can only supply 100,000 tons at most. Quality seed production and trading cooperatives, households can supply 50,000 - 70,000 tons. Thus there is still a shortage of 30,000 - 50,000 tons compared to the demand.

Dong Thap Seed Joint Stock Company (DOSECO), a unit specializing in the production and supply of high quality rice seeds in the southern region, is also facing many difficulties in both business and rice seed production.

Since the beginning of the year, due to the impact of Covid-19, the total amount of rice seed sold by DOSECO has decreased by 30 - 40%. Meanwhile, in the previous years, the amount of rice seed sold to farmers to sow the autumn-winter crop was about 500 tons, this year DOSECO only sold 200 tons, reducing more than 50% of the rice seed orders.

Concerns of the increase of poor quality rice area

Experts are worried that in the 2021-2022 winter-spring crop due to the impact of Covid-19 the area using poor quality rice seeds will increase. Particularly in the context that rice prices dropped while investment costs increased, farmers are discouraged to invest in high-quality rice seeds having high selling prices.

According to Dr. Ngo Dinh Thuc, Director of the Kien Giang Agro - Forestry - Fishery Seed Center, in order to ensure the supply of rice seeds to serve farmers in the 2021 - 2022 winter-spring crop, the unit has increased the amount of inventory and reserves compared to previous years. The reserve of rice seeds from now to the beginning of the production season is 2,500 - 2,700 tons, 700 tons higher than every year. This quantity can only meet about 10% of the demand of farmers in the province.

Mr. Thuc said that there are other companies and units operating in the field of rice seed production and supply in the province. In addition, there is a large amount of rice seed as a number of agricultural cooperatives and farmers can self-produce seeds and exchange them with each other. Therefore, in terms of the rice seed quantity serving production demand, the lack of supply is out of concern.

Proposal to support a portion of rice seed price

“In a recent online meeting with the MARD leaders, localities in the Mekong Delta have proposed to the Government to consider a policy to support a portion of rice seed price for farmers producing in the 2021 - 2022 winter-spring crop, especially households having difficulties due to epidemics.

Many localities have also proposed a support price of 50%. This is all to avoid the situation when farmers use substandard rice seeds for production, affecting the yield and quality of raw rice in the coming time," said Mr. Ngo Dinh Thuc.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Long An province, although there will be hardship in the upcoming winter-spring rice crop, Long An forwardly advanced the provincial budget to purchase rice seeds in order to take the initiative and ensure the supply of quality-certified seeds for farmers. The matter lies within farmers possessing insufficient budget to buy seeds, so a policy to support 50% of the price of rice seeds, including livestock breeds, is highly recommended.

"An Giang has currently finished the 2021 autumn-winter crop without problems, and the rice areas are all in good flood control embankments. The autumn-winter rice crop is considered the main crop for seed production in service to the next crop, which is the 2021 - 2022 winter-spring crop. The agricultural sector recommends that farmers, cooperatives and joint seed production enterprises apply technical measures, ensure the quality of seed sources to serve the market," said Mr. Nguyen Si Lam, Director of An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.