Winter-spring rice harvest succeeds, rising by VND 2,000/kg.

Mr Nguyen Minh Tien's family, residing in Hoa Hao hamlet, Phuoc Hao commune (Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh), has just harvested 4 ha of rice fields with an average yield of 750 - 800 kg/1000m2, selling at VND 9,200/kg, an increase of over VND 2,000/kg compared to the same period last year. The family is excited because this year's winter-spring rice crop has both yielded well and fetched a good price.

Mr. Tien shared that they used the ST24 rice variety for this crop, which is recommended by the agricultural sector. With this variety, they didn't need to spray pesticides or apply much fertilizer, yet achieved high yields. Additionally, by participating in the Cooperative, Mr. Tien received training in organic farming techniques and the application of mechanization, reducing costs and improving rice yield and quality.

Mr. Tien exclaimed, "This season, I made over VND 35 million/ha in profit. Moreover, the work is much easier now with pesticide-spraying planes, saving over VND 10 million in hired labour costs per season."

Mrs Tran Thi Hanh, who owns 3 ha of fields in the same area, stated that since receiving training in water-saving rice cultivation techniques and mechanization, she has expanded her planting area for the third crop because, in previous years, the fields here didn't have enough irrigation water for the winter-spring crop.

Mrs Hanh joyfully shared, "This season, I used ST and OM18 rice varieties and harvested 11 bags/1,000m2. The rice is very heavy due to sufficient irrigation. After deducting all expenses, I made over VND 3 million/1,000m2 in profit, higher than last year, and traders even come to the fields to buy".

This winter-spring rice crop, Tra Vinh province has planted nearly 56,300 hectares. Thanks to the advice to properly clean the fields before planting and adhere to the seasonal schedule, up to this point, farmers have harvested about 25,000 ha, accounting for approximately 40% of the planted area.

Despite facing drought and early saline intrusion since December 2023, which was higher than the average of many years, the coordinated implementation of solutions from the beginning of the dry season by local authorities has maintained the stability of the internal water levels in the province, ensuring sufficient supply for agricultural production.

Furthermore, the promotion of mechanization in agriculture not only reduces labour for farmers but also contributes to increasing the productivity, quality, and competitiveness of rice grains, promoting the integration of production and forming service organizations in rural areas.

Mr. Le Van Dong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tra Vinh province, stated that the agricultural sector has consistently supported and accompanied farmers in rice production and cultivation to achieve high efficiency and quality. The department has collaborated with localities to assign the Crop Production and Plant Protection Sub-department along with the Provincial Agricultural Promotion Center to provide technical training for farmers in implementing farming practices and applying scientific and technical methods in production.

In recent times, the agricultural sector in Tra Vinh has also encouraged farmers to adopt mechanization, supporting the use of cluster seeders, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Plant Cultivation and Plant Protection Sub-department, along with the Plant Protection Department, regularly organizes field visits and training sessions for farmers in farming practices and crop protection. These efforts have helped farmers reduce costs, increase profits, and produce high-quality products to meet market demands both domestically and internationally.