Timely support for pilot models of high-quality, low-emission rice farming

On July 5, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam and units under the Ministry conducted an actual survey of implementation models of the Project of 1 Million Hectares Specializing in High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation at Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative and Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative (Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh).

These models are supported by units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through the National Agricultural Extension Center, including 30% of cluster sowing costs and 100% of fertilizers.

In the pilot models, rice is in the tillering stage, free from pests and diseases, and rice plants are very beautiful. Representatives of the cooperatives excitedly said that rice in the project develops better than rice outside thanks to the application of advanced farming solutions.

Specifically, cooperative members have applied the cluster sowing method combined with burying fertilizer and applying organic fertilizer to help rice grow well. Farmers appreciated most highly the reduction of seed quantity from 200 kg to 60 kg/ha and effective water management.

However, the cooperatives still face difficulties due to the shallow on-farm canal system that causes flooding during heavy rains and water shortages in the dry season, along with limitations in machinery and technology.

After listening to the request, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam directed the Agricultural Extension Center of Tra Vinh Province to include in the policy supporting one straw roller machine for Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative from the loan capital from the Thien Tam Fund (VinGroup). For Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative, a combine harvester and a straw roller machine will be supported by the loan capital from the Thien Tam Fund (nearly VND 1 billion).

According to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, in the coming time, investing in a pumping station in the rice production area for Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative is also included in the project. It is recommended that the cooperative focus on properly implementing the process guided by the Agricultural Extension Center, including good treatment of straw after each harvest and effective water management.

Regarding coordination with businesses, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam proposed that RYNAN Technologies Vietnam Company use equipment to measure gas emissions on the pilot model, taking advantage of the most suitable and effective equipment in Southwestern fields.

According to Deputy Minister Nam, in parallel with implementing the project, the province needs to deploy sustainable rice farming models outside the project. Each district should implement a model to have an expanded base.

Reporting to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, the Director of the Tra Vinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Tran Truong Giang, said that the locality will focus on promptly deploying dredging of canals to ensure enough water sources for the end of the summer-autumn crop and the autumn-winter crop, especially by the end of the year. The road leading to Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative will be upgraded from 3 m to 5 m to meet the transportation of agricultural products.

Tra Vinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also coordinated with Saigon Kim Hong Trading Services Company Limited to organize training at the beginning of the crop on cluster sowing and cluster sowing combined with fertilizer burying methods for two cooperatives, with 60 delegates attending. At the same time, coordinate with the National Agricultural Extension Center to organize training on production processes for two cooperatives, with 100 delegates attending. In addition, coordinate with the Institute of Agricultural Environment (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences) to review and perfect the detailed diagram of the production area of each field of households participating in the model and select 10 points to proceed with monitoring and evaluation according to MRV.

Tra Vinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also coordinated with Binh Duong Water - Enviroment Corporation - Joint Stock Company to supply and support organic fertilizer for two cooperatives with a total amount of 49 tons, of which Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative was supported with 25 tons and Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative with 24 tons.

In addition, the Department also contacted AHA Agrochemical Joint Stock Company to work with two cooperatives on applying new production processes.

Currently, farmers in two cooperatives participating in the project have finished sowing on an area of 92.6 hectares for 84 households. Specifically, Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative has sown 50 hectares for 46 households, and Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative has sown 42.6 hectares for 38 households. Currently, rice is in the tillering stage and grows well.