A consultation workshop for the Modernized and Low-carbon Rice Production Transformation (ModeLRice) is co-held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the IRRI in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)Rice production in Vietnam is inefficient, showing a lack of integration andlow precision that leads to loss and overuse of inputs, Hung said in theconsultation workshop of Modernized and Low-carbon Rice Production Transformation(ModeLRice) co-held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development andthe IRRI in Hanoi this week.
Investment in technology and machinery was not synchronised or suitable for thespecific scale and needs of the sub-region. Farmers have limited access totechnology and end-market information, especially on sustainable, low-carbonand GAP standard rice production, he said.
According to Hung, the ModelRice project’s objective is to transform riceproduction in Vietnam and Laos to a low-carbon path with modern technologiesthat are climate-smart, profitable and sustainable.
The project will help increase annual rice income by at least 5 percent andreduce rice carbon by 20 percent each year, equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of CO2.
In the first three years of implementation, about 15,000 farmers will benefitfrom the project, rising to 20,000 after six years.
More importantly, the project will enhance the capacities of national partnersto adopt and scale up low-carbon rice production as well as enable policies andinvestment to support expansion of the production model.
According to Hung, the main limiting issues in rice production in the twocountries are salinity intrusion, drought, high rate of seed use, overuse ofagro-chemicals, inefficient water management, post-harvest losses and ricestraw burning and incorporation in flooded fields that leads to high greenhousegas emissions.
Food demand will double by 2050 and consumption will be on a sustainable trend,so countries must give priority to reducing greenhouse gas emission inagriculture, especially in rice production.
Therefore, it is necessary to enhance cooperation among farmers, co-operativesand businesses under contract farming and expand the large field model.
Rice production could reduce carbon-footprints by introducing more efficientsolutions for water management, input optimisation, minimisation of energyconsumption, crop and post-harvest losses, and use of climate smart maps andadaptation plans.
The ModelRice project was proposed in the context of agriculture in Vietnam andLaos facing greater demands and challenges.
Rice is not only one of the top priority industries of the two countries, butplays an important role in ensuring food security for more than 100 millionpeople, most living in rural areas.
In Vietnam, rice production accounts for 30 percent of agricultural production,while in Laos it makes up 80 percent of land cultivation area with an annualyield of 4 million tonnes.
Rice production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions inagricultural production. However, localities still mainly focus on economicgoals and food security, neglecting emission reduction.
The IRRI proposed the project to develop, test and establish viable businessmodels for large scale and value chain strategies suitable for low-emissionrice.
The project, which is expected to start in 2023, will focus on majorrice-producing regions, including’s three leading rice-producing provinces ofAn Giang, Dong Thap and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta region, and the Laosprovinces of Khammouan, Bolikhamxai and Xaignabuly./.
VNA
