Canadian delegation finds huge potential in Vietnam’s one million-hectare program

Can Tho City, Vietnam, December 20, 2024 —The Canadian Embassy in Vietnam delegation, led by Ms. Francesca Bellone, Head of the Development Cooperation Department, visited and surveyed the pilot model of the project “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High Quality and Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong River Delta By 2030” (1mHa) program at Thuan Tien Agricultural Cooperative in Vinh Thanh district.

This visit aimed to introduce the 1mHa Program to international partners. At the same time, it opened up opportunities for Vietnam to cooperate in investment with foreign partners and mobilize resources from international organizations, development partners, and non-governmental organizations to promote project implementation activities in localities.

Farmers, cooperative leaders, local agricultural sectors, and experts from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) introduced Ms. Bellone to the overall cultivation process, the development orientation of the 1mHa Program, and a rice straw-based circular economy in the Mekong Delta.

According to IRRI Scientist Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, the 1mHa practice was developed based on innovations for increasing farming efficiency, productivity, and income and reducing GHG emissions in rice production. With its benefits demonstrated through the farming pilots, both farmers and rice exporters expressed high interest and willingness to participate in the program and apply the 1mHa practices.

Mr. Nguyen Cao Khai, Director of Thuan Tien Cooperative, shared the initial results achieved through two seasons of implementing the pilot model. In particular, the highlight is the change in people’s farming practices, reducing investment costs, and increasing profits from 1 – 6 million VND/ha compared to traditional farming.

In addition, farmers increase economic efficiency from straw by-products by reusing them to…