Need policies to attract businesses to participate in the Project to grow 1 million hectares of low-emission rice...

According to experts, the key point of the Project to grow 1 million hectares of high-yield, low-emission rice is to increase the application of technical solutions to achieve the dual goal. The application of technical solutions such as "3 reductions, 3 increases", "1 must, 5 reductions", "alternate flooding and drying"... the first goal is to help farmers reduce input materials (fertilizer, seeds, water...) to save costs and increase production value. At the same time, the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is also raised.

Many people still do not fully understand and think that the implementation of the Project is to be granted and sold carbon credits at high value. We can do this, but that is a story for the future. Because only when successfully applying and mastering advanced rice cultivation solutions, especially the alternating flood and dry irrigation technique, can we reduce emissions and generate revenue from carbon market transactions. However, this is not a simple task, requiring a large enough scale of cultivation; farmers really changing their awareness and traditional farming habits; a relatively complete irrigation system, proactive irrigation; policy mechanisms to encourage farmers to apply science and technology; operating costs of the evaluation and monitoring system, etc.

The application of advanced farming processes will help reduce input materials (fertilizers, seeds, water, etc.) to the maximum. When input materials are reduced, economic efficiency for households participating in the Project will immediately increase by about 15 - 20%, even 30%. Along with improving economic efficiency, we will determine the level of emission reduction". When the application of technical solutions becomes proficient, methodical and the level of emission reduction is determined, we can certify Vietnamese rice as having reduced emissions. From there, the image, brand, and value of Vietnamese rice will be enhanced, making it easier to enter demanding markets with high requirements for responsible and sustainable farming. In addition to technical solutions, it is necessary to have policies to create incentives to attract businesses to participate. Businesses must be the center and driving force to implement the Project as well as lead farmers to develop a sustainable rice value chain.

Many experts believe that in the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice in the Mekong Delta, public-private partnership (PPP) is considered an important link to attract the participation of the private sector, enterprises, and farmers. There are 3 actors including the public sector, the private sector, and partners. In addition, the agricultural extension system and enterprises all have certain advantages in implementing the project. Therefore, promoting public-private partnership on rice will bring efficiency to all parties, ensuring the harmony of interests between the state, enterprises, people, and the community.

The PPP framework in this project has five tasks. One is to enhance the capacity of community and farmer extension on emission reduction; the second is to assess MRV; the third is to transfer technology; the fourth is to link up to build brands; and the fifth is to communicate.

For effective public-private partnership, there must be a division of work responsibilities between the public and private sectors; trust between partners; an equal and balanced relationship between partners and good protection of the parties' ownership rights. In the linkage of rice production, processing and consumption, enterprises must sign a stable rice consumption contract with cooperatives at a suitable price and share benefits with farmers from reduced emissions. Enterprises must invest in advance input materials for farmers, this is a very important factor that is a commitment of the enterprise to farmers and also a guarantee that the enterprise will purchase.