Farmers harvest 2023 autumn-winter rice (Photo: VNA) The country’s largest rice producing province is targeting 6,500hain An Minh, An Bien and Vinh Thuan districts and an annual output of 31,900tonnes by 2025.
By 2030 it plans to expand the organic rice area to 25,000ha inthe three districts and also U Minh Thuong, Go Quao and Han Dat, and output to129,185 tonnes.
Le Huu Toan, Deputy Director of the province’s Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, said organic rice cultivation would increaseadded value, enable sustainability, help implement the country’s targetprogrammes, and promote the province’s potential.
The province is set to pioneer the development of organic rice,seamlessly blending environmental preservation and bio-diversity enhancement,according to the official.
The strategy involves a substantial increase in the adoption oforganic farming methods, incorporating elements such as organic pesticides andfertilisers.
Extensive efforts will be made to disseminate organic rice farmingtechniques among growers, equipping them with the skills to efficiently managecultivation and rice processing.
Stringent inspections of certified organic rice-growing modelswill continue, ensuring compliance with the highest standards.
Small-scale enterprises, co-operatives, and household unitsdemonstrating the capability to produce organic rice will be carefully selectedand connected with relevant stakeholders to participate in various models.
Infrastructure investments in designated organic rice areas willprioritise advanced farming techniques, focusing on key components likeirrigation systems, pumping stations, power infrastructure, roads, warehouses,rice dryers, and processing facilities.
A meticulous approach to managing the quality of materials used inorganic rice cultivation and the usage of organic brand names will securequality.
The province will actively promote collaborative ties amongfarmers, companies, scientists, and local authorities to foster the productionof organic rice.
Cultivating quality rice
Kien Giang has joined the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment’s project aimed at cultivating 1 million hectares of high-quality,low-emissions rice aligning with green growth goals in the Mekong Delta until2030.
In the current winter-spring rice season, the province plans tocultivate 60,000 hectares under this initiative, with the participation of over100 co-operatives.
These co-operatives meet three key criteria: simultaneous sowingof certified seeds, adopting the "one must - five reductions" methodand strengthening partnerships with companies to secure outlets.
The "one must - five reductions" method prioritisescertified seeds while minimising the use of seedlings, nitrogenous fertilisers,plant-protection chemicals, and irrigation and post-harvest losses.
The province aims to cultivate 279,000 hectares of winter-springrice, with high-quality varieties to constitute over 95% of total yield.
A cautionary note advises farmers to complete sowing beforeyear-end to avoid water shortages.
Significant focus is directed towards the development oflarge-scale rice fields, creating favourable conditions for partnershipsbetween companies and farmers.
More than 1,300 large-scale rice fields pooling a total area of167,225 hectares have been established, more than double last year's count.
There are also 300 rice-growing areas totalling over 6,000ha withproduction codes for export to markets including the EU and Japan.
The province has embraced information technology for diseasemonitoring and equipped farmers with advanced agricultural techniques.
Collaborating with localities, its irrigation sub-departments haveimplemented co-ordinated measures to combat drought and saltwater intrusion,safeguarding water meant for agriculture, including the 2023-2024 winter-springcrop.
Infrastructure enhancements encompass construction of and upgradesto saltwater prevention dams, irrigation sluices and electric pumping stations,canal dredging, and repairs, ensuring effective operation, particularly the CaiLon-Cai Be irrigation sluice system, the delta's largest.
In the previous autumn-winter season farmers in the provinceenjoyed bumper harvests and high selling prices, and made profits of 20-25million VND (800-1,000 USD) per hectare.
Across Giong Rieng, Go Quao, Chau Thanh, Tan Hiep, Hon Dat, andGiang Thanh districts, over 90,000 hectares produced an average yield of 5.7tonnes per hectare.
Danh Phuong, a farmer in Giong Rieng district’s Ban Thach commune,said in 2022 autumn-winter he did not grow any rice, but this year he grew twohectares of Dai Thom 8 rice because of favourable weather forecasts and highprices.
“At the start of the season, traders paid an advance for rice at arate of 8,500 VND per kilogramme, nearly double the price of the 2022autumn-winter crop.
“Recognising the profit potential, I signed a sales contract witha trader early.”/.
VNA
