On August 30, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam and his delegation visited the rice production model under the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice at Phu Hoa Youth Agricultural Service Cooperative (Tan Hoi commune, Tan Hiep district, Kien Giang).

People will definitely do well in the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - a farmer in Tan Hoi commune - said this was the first time he participated in the pilot project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the locality.

On his family's 3.3ha area, he sowed about 7kg of Dai Thom 8 rice variety per acre. His rice has been planted for 45 days, has good bush growth, and is less susceptible to yellow leaves and pests.

"I expect the yield of this rice crop to be about 900kg of fresh rice per hectare. The company promises to guarantee the output price will be higher than the market price, without forcing down the price. The people and I are very happy and will definitely do well according to this 1 million hectare high-quality rice project," Mr. Dung happily said.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huynh - Director of Phu Hoa Youth Agricultural Service Cooperative - said that the cooperative has about 695 hectares with 320 members. Participating in the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice, members of this cooperative are piloting about 50 hectares.

"I and the people really hope that the ministry and related units and localities will pay attention to building a local rice brand and especially open up intra-field canals to manage water well, contributing to reducing emissions, achieving high rice productivity, and increasing profits," said Mr. Huynh.

Dredging internal irrigation systems for people to manage water for rice cultivation

Mr. Tran Thanh Nam - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - affirmed that farmers of the cooperative have followed the correct production process according to the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice. This is a success and also a new turning point to help Kien Giang people produce rice with reduced input costs.

From the above rice growing process, Kien Giang farmers will switch to new, effective production linked to consumption. Thereby, people will know how to cultivate, connect and implement the high-quality rice production process effectively.

Mr. Nam hopes that if it is effective and sustainable, people will be confident in doing it and profits will increase.

"Local inland irrigation needs to ensure the water supply level is correct according to regulations. I suggest that relevant units consider allocating a small amount of capital to build irrigation to help farmers grow high-quality rice and then expand it.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang needs to summarize experiences, provide training, and help people grow high-quality rice effectively and stabilize their family lives," Mr. Nam emphasized.

Start working on 1 million hectares of high quality rice

On April 7, in Hau Giang, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a consultation conference on the project of sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality specialized rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region.