Strengthening solutions for crop conversion on ineffective rice land

Crop conversion efficiency

According to the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection (TT&BVTV) of Can Tho City, in the city, farmers are mainly converting crop structure on rice land, with the goal of increasing production efficiency, meeting market demand. In particular, the area converted to fruit trees or vegetable rotation increases quickly or slowly depending on the consumption market. In the 2025 plan, the city has a total fruit tree growing area of 101,647 hectares, with an expected output of 1,041,300 tons. The area for growing vegetables, colors, beans of all kinds and short-term industrial crops is 92,195 hectares, with an output of 1,552,676 tons. As of July 16, 2025, the fruit tree growing area was 102,194 hectares, reaching 100.54% of the plan, higher than the same period in 2024; The harvested output was 658,418 tons, reaching 63.23% of the plan, 3.52% higher than the same period in 2024. It is expected that from now until the end of 2025, the fruit harvest will increase by 495,582 tons, reaching 110.8% of the plan. The area for growing vegetables, colors, beans of all kinds and short-term industrial crops is 85,635 hectares, reaching 92.8% of the plan, 13.21% higher than the same period last year. By mid-July 2025, the city harvested 67,704 hectares, with an output of 1,284,525 tons, reaching 82.72% of the plan. It is expected that from now until the end of 2025, city farmers will plant 92,195 hectares of vegetables, with an output of 1,684,009 tons, reaching 108.5% of the plan.

Highly effective crop conversion model in Can Tho city.

Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu, Head of the Department of Plant Protection and Plant Protection of Can Tho City, commented: “With the above area, the city's annual fruit output remains quite high, meeting market demand. In particular, many key fruits such as mango, durian, longan, and star apple have been exported to international markets. In recent times, Can Tho's fruits have entered demanding markets thanks to the application of sustainable farming processes, production according to VietGAP standards; production linkage to create specialized areas to meet the requirements of importing countries on traceability, product quality... In particular, the city is interested in supporting farmers to convert crops on ineffective rice land, contributing to improving farmers' income".

In the first 6 months of 2025, the whole city has converted 1,131 hectares of rice production land. Of which, 765 hectares were converted to annual crops and 366 hectares were converted to perennial crops. The city's Department of Agriculture continues to guide localities in converting the structure of crops and livestock on rice-growing land to ensure the correct order and procedures according to the provisions of law; propagate and mobilize farmers to increase the application of scientific and technical advances in production; replicate new and effective models such as "3 reductions, 3 increases", "1 must, 5 reductions", SRP, application of ecological technology in integrated pest management, etc.

Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu added that the area and output of crop and livestock conversion on rice-growing land in the city are expected to increase due to farmers increasing their planting area. Experience in crop conversion in Can Tho City (old) shows that if any locality promotes the application of advanced science in production and implements contracts for product consumption, the area of crop conversion will increase rapidly and achieve high efficiency.

Stable solution

In recent years, the Can Tho City Department of Agriculture has built a key fruit tree production area and created branded products with an area of over 40,000 hectares, achieving an output of nearly 500,000 tons, including crops such as Phong Dien strawberry, durian, Hoa Loc Song Hau mango, longan, star apple, pineapple, etc. The area and output have continuously increased over the years thanks to the application of technical advances, increased use of new varieties and application of good agricultural production practices. The vegetable and short-term industrial crop production area has maintained and formed a specialized area for vegetables and short-term industrial crops concentrated on over 10,000 hectares, such as sugarcane, purple onions and various vegetables, with an output of over 160,000 tons/year. Since the beginning of the year, the city has issued 73 growing area codes with a total area of 1,389 hectares, bringing the total number of growing area codes issued to date to 573 codes with a total area of 9,276 hectares on key crops such as mango, star apple, longan, durian... exported to the US, Australia, Japan, Thailand, China and EU markets. For product packaging facilities, the total number of codes issued to date is 26 codes for 17 participating enterprises... The Department of Plant Protection of Can Tho City forecasts that the area of specialized growing areas and high-quality products will continue to expand in the last months of 2025.

However, currently, the weather and storms are complicated, the City's Plant Protection Department requires localities to propagate and mobilize farmers to visit their gardens regularly, be vigilant against flooding due to prolonged heavy rain; at the same time, check and detect flooded trees that are starting to show symptoms of yellow leaves and rotten roots, use pesticides to irrigate around the root area and increase the resistance of the trees to adverse factors.

For gardens that are flooded when the embankment breaks or due to prolonged heavy rain, water should be allowed to flow naturally on the surface of the garden beds because when the flow is free, it will provide some oxygen to help the roots breathe and quickly pump out. During flooding, limit movement in the orchard as much as possible, because doing so will make the trees more susceptible to oxygen deficiency and die faster. If the tree is flowering, fruiting or growing young shoots, it is necessary to prune or cut off all young shoots and this batch of flowers and fruits; ineffective branches and shoots should be pruned to limit nutrient loss, avoid shaking the roots that affect the roots when flooded. After the water recedes, it is necessary to make additional trenches between the rows of trees to drain water quickly to lower the water level in the garden. Use a rake to lightly loosen the soil surface to break the crust, helping the ground surface to be airy for the roots to easily receive oxygen. Then use straw or dry grass to cover the surface; apply balanced fertilizer, especially potassium, do not apply nitrogen to make the tree produce many new shoots. Limit the use of organic fertilizers, especially uncomposted organic fertilizers, because they will make microorganisms more active and consume a lot of oxygen from plants when they are flooded...

For vegetables, beans of all kinds and short-term industrial crops, it is necessary to focus on investigating and forecasting the types of pests that arise, develop and cause damage that reduce productivity and product quality, causing great losses to farmers; regularly monitor weather forecasts, notify farmers when bad weather can affect the production of flowers and ornamental plants to promptly respond and limit damage...

Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu added that in the coming time, the city's Department of Plant Protection and Plant Protection will strengthen propaganda, mobilization and dissemination of the purpose, meaning and effectiveness of converting crop structure on inefficient rice land to other crops to adapt to the situation of climate change. In addition, selecting varieties with high yield and quality, suitable for the conditions of each ecological sub-region, varieties with good resistance to pests and diseases. Accordingly, the City Department of Plant Protection and Plant Protection will strengthen training, guide the process and cultivation techniques of each type of converted crop for farmers to apply in order to increase production efficiency. At the same time, integrating programs and projects to implement effective demonstration models, helping farmers learn and apply and creating conditions to support, connect, invite businesses to participate in production linkage, supply good varieties and stable product consumption for farmers...

Article and photos: HA VAN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tang-cuong-giai-phap-chuyen-doi-cay-trong-tren-dat-lua-kem-hieu-qua-a189592.html