PROJECT HELPS PROMOTE MODERNISATION OF RICE PRODUCTION

Harvesting winter-spring rice crop in central province of Quang Tri (Photo: VNA)

Not only does Vietnam produce enough rice to meet the needs of nearly 100 million people, but it also has the potential to increase rice exports and is fully capable of sharing food security responsibilities with the world.

Vietnam exported over 7 million tonnes of rice worth 4.37 billion USD in the first nine months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 9.2% in volume and 23.5% in value. The average export price of rice was estimated at 624 USD per tonne, up 13.1% compared to the same period last year.

This year’s rice for export is forecast to mainly come from the Mekong Delta, known as the contry’s “rice bowl”. Thus, rice export plays a crucial role in the economic development of the region and the nation.

The Mekong Delta actively mechanises all stages from sowing to harvesting in rice production. (Photo: VNA)

Contributions to export market

The Mekong Delta, with a natural area of 4.092 million hectares, of which 2.5 million hectares are used for agricultural production, is one of Vietnam’s primary rice-growing regions.

In recent years, rice production in this region has been maintained at 24-25 million tonnes, accounting for over 50% of the country’s total rice output, with more than 90% of the national rice export volume coming from this area, generating jobs and incomes for millions of local households.

Loc Troi Group exported rice for the first time using bulk carriers to save costs and increase export efficiency (Photo: VNA)

Rice exports from the region mainly target traditional key markets such as China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Ivory Coast, as well as new and promising markets like Russia and various regions in Africa, West Asia, and South Asia, including South Africa, Algeria, Angola, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the rice industry’s productivity has increased sharply and its export value is expected to exceed the expectation of 5 billion USD for the whole year. Notably, rice yields in the Mekong Delta city localities have surged even though the cultivation area has decreased compared to 2023.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho apply technology to irrigation systems to increase rice production efficiency (Photo: VNA)

This year, several localities in the region have effectively implemented a project on developing 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030. It not only helps farmers increase profits by over 20% but also reduces emissions by 5-10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare compared to traditional methods.

The Mekong Delta has rolled out seven models on 333.5ha during the 2024  summer-autumn crop across five localities, namely Can Tho city, and Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap and Kien Giang province.

Many businesses in the Mekong Delta have engaged in providing inputs, services, and product purchasing guarantees for farmers involved in the project, according to the MARD.

“Big game”: 1 million hectares of high-quality rice

Despite the achievements, the Mekong Delta still faces challenges such as a lack of concentrated, large-scale rice production areas with linkage and cooperation under value chains between rice farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises. Rice cultivation remains unsustainable as many farmers still use chemical fertilisers and pesticides, adversely affecting the environment and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Moreover, recent market demands have become increasingly stringent, with importing countries enforcing stricter regulations requiring higher quality rice and ensuring food safety, which includes minimising the use of chemical inputs and reducing emissions. Besides, the Prime Minister signed a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Given this context, the government has approved the project on developing 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030.

A  pilot model of the project on developing one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice is launched at Thuan Tien Cooperative in Thanh An commune, Vinh Thanh district, Can Tho city on April 5. (Photo: VNA)

The project not only brings direct benefits to nearly 1.5 million farmers but also affirms Vietnam’s commitment to global food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is associated with restructuring the production system along the value chain, applying sustainable farming processes to enhance value, ensuring the sustainable development of the rice sector. It also seeks to improve production efficiency, increase income and living standards for rice farmers, protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Once the project is carried out successfully, the model will be replicated nationwide, aiming to turn “green development, emission reduction, high quality” as the brand of Vietnamese rice.

The MARD estimates the total funding required for the project to be around 800 million USD. The World Bank has agreed to select the project as one of the key initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region and will provide Vietnam with a 500 million USD loan./.