Many solutions to support safe and effective rice production

As the largest rice granary in the country, the Mekong Delta has recently faced many challenges due to climate change (CC), land degradation, pests, small-scale production, and limited irrigation infrastructure in the rice production process. Solutions for safe and effective rice production, avoiding natural disaster risks, and protecting the environment... are being implemented by all sectors, levels, and localities in the Mekong Delta.

Many challenges

According to Can Tho University, the Mekong Delta is still identified as the region with the largest rice growing area in the country (accounting for 52% of the country's rice growing area). This area increases gradually and changes every year. Typically, in 2000, the rice growing area reached 3.95 million hectares, accounting for 51.5% of the country's growing area; in 2015, it increased to 4.3 million hectares, accounting for 55% of the country's growing area; in 2021, it decreased slightly to 3.89 million hectares, accounting for 53.7% of the country's growing area and in 2025, the estimated production is over 4 million hectares, with a total output of over 25.51 million tons (nearly 200,000 tons higher than in 2024).

In recent times, the agricultural sector of the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta has continuously improved rice varieties, cultivating high yields of 6-8 tons/ha. The Mekong Delta has also focused on developing and expanding high-quality, safe and organic rice production processes such as "3 reductions, 3 increases", "1 must, 5 reductions", "planthopper avoidance focused" varieties and many other advanced technical models. Solutions to adapt and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice cultivation that have been implemented recently have achieved many positive results.

However, according to research by experts, agriculture is the second highest emitting sector in the country, accounting for about 18% of total emissions. Rice accounts for more than 75% of methane and about half (48%) of the agricultural sector's emissions. In addition, the production area applying sustainable farming measures such as "1 must, 5 reductions", "3 reductions, 3 increases", sustainable farming, organic farming has increased rapidly in recent years but is still at a low level, and there is still a situation where people produce rice based on customs and experience.

The reason for the low sustainable production rate is that farmers have difficulty in consuming rice. The output of rice products is not really stable and is often passive in the face of market fluctuations. Production links are not sustainable, especially the links between producers, cooperatives and enterprises are still loose and short-term. Vietnam is known as one of the largest rice exporting countries in the world , but post-harvest losses of rice are still high, currently at about 10%.

Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnamese rice industry, said: “The challenges in rice production that need attention and overcoming are changing farmers' awareness, strengthening the expertise and management of functional sectors. It is necessary to change traditional farming practices, increase the application of technical advances in production, and pay attention to investing in reducing initial costs. Overcome the lack of information and knowledge for farmers and management units; increase investment in socio-economic infrastructure, production linkages, and increase the value of the industry chain. Strictly manage emission sources, inspection and certification capabilities; respond to climate change and increase scale and linkages in production according to large-field models, and product consumption…”.

Practical solutions

According to Can Tho University, climate change is a global issue and is changing the weather and hydrological conditions of the Mekong Delta, especially flood water in the Mekong Delta tends to decrease and end early, saline intrusion occurs abnormally, appearing 1-1.5 months earlier than before and further inland. These changes have affected rice production in the Mekong Delta, including reducing rice land due to rising sea levels and saline intrusion, making many areas no longer able to cultivate, affecting the growth of rice plants, increasing diseases, reducing rice quality and yield, affecting people's income and livelihoods, threatening food security of the region and the country. According to forecasts, climate change will become more serious in the Mekong Delta in the coming years.

Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Rector of Can Tho University, said: “The project of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta is not only aimed at increasing the value of Vietnamese rice, but also a pioneering step in building a green, sustainable agriculture that adapts to climate change. The Mekong Delta is one of the country's key rice granaries that is currently suffering many impacts from saline intrusion, rising sea levels, and climate change. Therefore, implementing this project is an opportunity for localities in the Mekong Delta to both improve economic efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to Vietnam's commitment to sustainable development in the coming years.”

The model of applying modern technology and mechanization in agricultural production is developing in Can Tho City. In the photo: Farmers use remote-controlled aircraft to spray pesticides on rice fields in Co Do Commune, Can Tho City.

The project on sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030 is of strategic significance in order to enhance the value and competitiveness of Vietnamese rice, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing sustainable agriculture. The specific objectives of the project are to increase farmers' income, reduce production costs, improve the environment, adapt to climate change and contribute to the implementation of Vietnam's commitment to reduce carbon emissions, towards the Net Zero target by 2050. The first phase of the project (2024-2025) consolidates 180,000 hectares already from the Vietnam Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project (VnSAT), focusing on training, planning, establishing a measurement - reporting - verification (MRV) system, counting and piloting carbon crediting. Phase 2 (2026-2030) expands an additional 820,000 new hectares, completes infrastructure, reorganizes production, builds value chains and completes the MRV system.

Recently, at the Scientific Workshop with the theme “Solutions to support the One Million Hectare High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Project in the Mekong Delta”, scientists and experts emphasized the indispensable role of close partnerships between academic institutions, management agencies, private enterprises and international organizations. These collaborations are essential to build capacity, transfer technology and expand sustainable practices across the Mekong Delta, making the One Million Hectare High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Project a global model for sustainable development...

Mr. Le Thanh Tung emphasized: The method of cooperation in implementing the one million hectare project is the relationship between science and technology units (institutes, schools, centers) and enterprises, cooperatives, localities, specialized agencies, agricultural extension agencies, international organizations. The content of cooperation is to support and transfer science and technology in the rice production process with issues related to cost reduction, emission reduction, green growth. Applying science and technology in crops, cultivation areas and related abiotic factors. Increasing the quality and food safety of rice production. Cooperating in building raw material areas with socio-economic infrastructure, mechanizing and digitizing rice production management activities. Cooperating in organizing and implementing the project, solving specific challenges of each locality in the production and consumption of products...

Article and photos: HA VAN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nhieu-giai-phap-ho-tro-san-xuat-lua-an-toan-hieu-qua-a190712.html