Soc Trang expands pilot of million hectare low-emission rice project
The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang plans to expand the rice cultivation model in the 2024 Summer-Autumn crop targeting one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice by 2030. The green growth rice is to be piloted in Long Phu, to other local districts, towns, and cities.
After the first crop, the 50-ha model in the Hung Loi Agriculture Cooperative in Long Phu district, which used the ST25 rice variety, has helped significantly reduce costs for production, and the amount of fertilizer and pesticides compared to traditional farming methods.
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, rice yield in the crop reached 6.5 tonnes per ha. The price at VND10,800 (US$0.44) per kilogram, farmers involved in the project earned nearly VND49 million per ha in profit, 12% higher than other production models.
The department said the model was implemented rigorously in accordance with a technical process for producing high-quality and low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta region. It focused on mechanisation in land preparation and sowing using a row seeder that combined burying and broad cast fertiliser.
The amount of seeds used was 60 kg per ha, which is a reduction of 20-40 kg per ha compared to areas outside the model. Additionally, farmers reduced pesticide spraying by four times compared to other zones outside the model.
Notably, the results of measuring greenhouse gas emissions in the crop showed emissions at 9,505 kg of CO2 per ha, down 3,996 kg of CO2 equivalent per ha/crop compared to other models. This is important empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of reducing emissions by adjusting farming techniques.
The initial economic efficiency shows that reducing input materials does not affect productivity, and helps increase profits for farmers, creating motivation to encourage local farmers to replicate the model in the future.
Truong Van Hung, Director of the cooperative said to achieve good results in the coming time, the cooperative will continue to promote the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, and follow instructions of professional agencies towards promoting sustainable rice cultivation.
According to Vuong Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, the locality boasts strengths in rice cultivation with an annual sowing area of about 320,000 ha and an output of about 2 million tonnes. Last year, Soc Trang’s rice export value hit over US$400 million.
The project to plant one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth by 2030 presents an opportunity for the local agricultural sector to further develop and for farmers to adopt new, sustainable cultivation methods, he said.
