Harvesting rice in Long An province. The province aims to increase the cultivation of high-quality rice varieties and the use of technology in 2020-2025 to help improve farmers’ incomes. (Photo baolongan.vn)Long An (VNS/VNA) - The MekongDelta province of Long An plans to increase its rate of high-quality ricecultivation to 70 -75 percent during 2021 – 2025 from the current 50 percent,according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It aims to produce 2.5 million tonnes ofgrain annually during the period.
Nguyen Thanh Truyen, director of thedepartment, said to achieve the targets advocacy of environmental protectionand improving the quality of agricultural produce would be undertaken.
The province would speed up construction ofirrigation works like water pumping stations, ditches in crop fields andsaltwater prevention sluices, research and create suitable sowing schedules,identify rice varieties to be grown in each locality, and organise courses totrain farmers in farming techniques, he said.
It will focus on implementing an existingprogramme to develop high-tech agriculture and increase its high-tech ricefarming area from the current 20,000ha to 60,000ha by 2025.
Last year, the province produced 2.8 milliontonnes of rice, including some high-quality varieties like Dai Thom 8, OM 4900,Nang Hoa 9, ST24, and ST25.
ST25 won the first prize at the 2019 World’sBest Rice Contest.
In 2013, the province zoned more than48,000ha for growing high – quality varieties in 25 communes in the Dong ThapMuoi (Plain of Reeds) region to serve exports, improve efficiency and enhancefarmers’ incomes.
In these areas, farmers have to use advancedtechniques like ‘one must and five reductions’ and ‘three reductions and threeincreases.’
The former requires farmers to use certifiedseeds, and reduce seedlings, plant protection chemicals, nitrogen fertilisers,irrigation, and post-harvest losses.
Tran Van Lam, who uses advanced techniques togrow rice in Tan Thanh district’s Bac Hoa commune, said he is able to reducethe use of seeds for sowing by 20 – 50 kilogramme per hectare and fertilisersby 20 – 30 percent compared to traditional methods.
His costs are down by 2 – 2.5 million VND (90– 110 USD) per hectare while yields are 500 – 800 kg higher, he said.
“The income is 4 – 6 million VND (170 – 260 USD)per hectare higher.”
The high-quality varieties, too, fetchfarmers higher incomes.
Le Hoang Phi in Thanh Hoa district’s Tan Dongcommune has switched to glutinous rice variety IR 4625 in his 1.5ha fieldbecause of its high quality, resistance to diseases and steady demand and price.
He uses technology, organic fertilisers andbio-products to meet market demand and earns 50 million VND (2,160 USD) a year,he said.
Long An is expected to have 498,300ha underrice this year, slightly down from last year, according to the department.
The average rice yield is expected to be140kg higher than last year at 5.6 tonnes per hectare./.
It aims to produce 2.5 million tonnes ofgrain annually during the period.
Nguyen Thanh Truyen, director of thedepartment, said to achieve the targets advocacy of environmental protectionand improving the quality of agricultural produce would be undertaken.
The province would speed up construction ofirrigation works like water pumping stations, ditches in crop fields andsaltwater prevention sluices, research and create suitable sowing schedules,identify rice varieties to be grown in each locality, and organise courses totrain farmers in farming techniques, he said.
It will focus on implementing an existingprogramme to develop high-tech agriculture and increase its high-tech ricefarming area from the current 20,000ha to 60,000ha by 2025.
Last year, the province produced 2.8 milliontonnes of rice, including some high-quality varieties like Dai Thom 8, OM 4900,Nang Hoa 9, ST24, and ST25.
ST25 won the first prize at the 2019 World’sBest Rice Contest.
In 2013, the province zoned more than48,000ha for growing high – quality varieties in 25 communes in the Dong ThapMuoi (Plain of Reeds) region to serve exports, improve efficiency and enhancefarmers’ incomes.
In these areas, farmers have to use advancedtechniques like ‘one must and five reductions’ and ‘three reductions and threeincreases.’
The former requires farmers to use certifiedseeds, and reduce seedlings, plant protection chemicals, nitrogen fertilisers,irrigation, and post-harvest losses.
Tran Van Lam, who uses advanced techniques togrow rice in Tan Thanh district’s Bac Hoa commune, said he is able to reducethe use of seeds for sowing by 20 – 50 kilogramme per hectare and fertilisersby 20 – 30 percent compared to traditional methods.
His costs are down by 2 – 2.5 million VND (90– 110 USD) per hectare while yields are 500 – 800 kg higher, he said.
“The income is 4 – 6 million VND (170 – 260 USD)per hectare higher.”
The high-quality varieties, too, fetchfarmers higher incomes.
Le Hoang Phi in Thanh Hoa district’s Tan Dongcommune has switched to glutinous rice variety IR 4625 in his 1.5ha fieldbecause of its high quality, resistance to diseases and steady demand and price.
He uses technology, organic fertilisers andbio-products to meet market demand and earns 50 million VND (2,160 USD) a year,he said.
Long An is expected to have 498,300ha underrice this year, slightly down from last year, according to the department.
The average rice yield is expected to be140kg higher than last year at 5.6 tonnes per hectare./.
VNA
