MARD, Can Tho City, and IRRI launch model farms for sustainable rice production

Department of Crop Production-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (DCP-MARD), Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City, and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) officially launched its model rice fields under Vietnam’s One-Million-Ha program.

As part of Vietnam’s “One Million Hectares Sustainable Development Project for High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth (One Million Hectares Program)”, the Department of Crop Production-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (DCP-MARD), Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City, and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) officially launched its model rice fields.

According to FAOSTAT, Vietnam produced over 42 million tons of rice in 2022 only– securing the food security not only of the country but of the Southeast Asian region. About 50% of this rice production is contributed by the Mekong River Delta (MRD). Because of the country’s steady progress towards intensifying rice production over the past decade, there is a need to make sure that its rice-based systems are developed sustainably. In agriculture, rice ranks as the second largest emitter of GHG yet, it also holds 36% of mitigation potential which is much higher compared to livestock (9%) and croplands (3%) (Roe et al., 2021; EPA, 2021).

Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of DCP, shared that the program aims to reorganize the entire rice industry in MRD to reduce production costs and GHG emissions, increase the value of rice products, and develop rural areas sustainably. Mr. Tung also said that the program would be forming cooperatives and farmer organizations closely linked with businesses to produce high-quality rice and increase income for farmers.

IRRI Scientist Dr. Nguyen Van Hung stated that the model fields will feature major innovations such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), mechanized…