US assists Vietnam in proper fertiliser use
VOV.VN - The Fertilize Right Project was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at a workshop held on April 9 in Hanoi.
The four-year project worth US$4.4 million is led by the Plant Protection Department and implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
It is set to be implemented in the three Red River Delta provinces of Hai Duong, Thai Binh, and Nam Dinh; along with the three Mekong Delta localities of Can Tho city, Dong Thap province, and Soc Trang province.
More than 2,600 individuals are expected to benefit from short-term training; and greenhouse gases such as CH4 and N2O are to be reduced by an annual amount equivalent to 56,000 tonnes of CO2.
In his address, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung said that the project is designed to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural production.
He therefore voiced his hope that with technical support from USDA, IRRI experts, and Vietnamese scientists, farmers in the participating localities will gain access to advanced techniques and precision agriculture practices, including optimised fertiliser use in rice cultivation, in order to replicate successful experiences nationwide.
Speaking at the launch workshop, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper stated that the two countries’ upgrading of their relations to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023 opened up plenty of opportunities for agricultural co-operation for sustainable development. The US is the second-largest importer of farm produce from Vietnam, while the nation holds an important position in global food security.
The diplomat expressed his confidence that the project will provide technical support and training to rice farmers as they strive to improve their livelihoods, soil health, and ensure food security.
The project activities are based on the "four rights" of nutrient management, namely right source, right rate, right place, and right time. These principles correspond to the "five rights" of fertilisation stipulated in Vietnamese crop production law, which are right soil, right crop, right amount, right time, and right method.
