An Giang spends over VND 38 billion on high-quality, low-emission rice

Reducing costs, enhancing production efficiency

For the 2025–2026 winter-spring crop, An Giang province has piloted dozens of high-quality, low-emission rice production models aligned with green growth, with a total budget exceeding VND 38 billion. This is considered an important step toward realizing the project on developing one million hectares of high-quality rice in the Mekong Delta.

According to the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the models are being implemented across key localities, including Can Dang, Co To, Chau Phong, Thoai Son, Long Dien, Phu An, Nui Cam, Nhon Hoi, My Thanh Tay, and Vinh Te ward. Each model covers an area of 50 ha and is run continuously across three production crops, from the 2025–2026 winter-spring crop through the 2026 autumn-winter crop.

These models synchronously apply technical processes for high-quality, low-emission rice production in line with guidelines from the Plant Production and Protection Department, serving as a basis for greenhouse gas emission inventory while establishing a technical foundation for province-wide replication in the coming period.

Notably, farmers participating in the models receive support of up to 50% of seed and fertilizer costs and 30% of pesticide costs, with the remainder contributed by farmers themselves. This policy not only reduces input burdens but also encourages farmers to boldly shift their cultivation methods.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, a farmer in Can Dang commune (An Giang), shared, "Previously, dense sowing and heavy fertilizer use led to high costs while yields were not always stable. Currently, by joining the high-quality rice model, we are guided to reduce seed and fertilizer use and receive support, so farmers feel more secure. If we follow the technical guidelines and yields remain stable, profits will certainly be higher."

According to the agriculture and environment sector, the models will adopt synchronized mechanization from tillage and sowing to harvesting. Seeding rates are reduced to 80 kg/ha in the winter-spring crop and 65 kg/ha in subsequent crops. At the same time, chemical fertilizer and pesticide use are reduced by 30%, and irrigation water use is reduced by 20% compared to traditional methods.

In parallel, 100% of the participating area will apply sustainable farming processes, such as "1 Must 5 Reductions," alternate wetting and drying irrigation, the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standard, or other good agricultural practices. The issuance of planting area codes will also be implemented to facilitate traceability and exports.

In particular, the models extensively use modern technologies such as laser land leveling, rice transplanters, combined row seeders and fertilizer applicators, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for sowing, fertilizing, and spraying. This marks a significant step forward in reducing labor costs while improving accuracy and production efficiency.

Beyond production, the agriculture and environment sector plans to manage post-harvest by-products well. Rice straw is collected for mushroom cultivation, animal feed, or organic fertilizer production, rather than being burned, which causes environmental pollution. Timely harvesting and the use of combine harvesters also help reduce losses and improve rice quality.

Linking production and consumption toward sustainable low-emission goals

Mr. Le Van Hung, Director of My Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (An Giang), said that a key feature of the model is the link between production and consumption. When production follows standardized processes and has planting area codes, enterprises can easily sign off-take contracts. The cooperative acts as a bridge to organize production in a synchronized manner, giving farmers confidence in output.

According to Mr. Tran Thanh Hiep, Deputy Director of the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the pilot models not only deliver economic benefits but also help fulfill Viet Nam’s emission-reduction commitments at COP26, moving toward the Net Zero goal by 2050.

This serves as a practical basis for communicating and guiding farmers in applying technical solutions in a coordinated manner, moving toward scaling up the One Million Hectares of High-Quality Rice project across the province.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hiep, Deputy Director of the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that, with the target of developing more than 351,000 ha of high-quality, low-emission rice by 2030, An Giang is gradually restructuring its rice sector in a modern and sustainable direction. The pilot models implemented today are expected to become nuclei for wider replication, helping farmers change their production mindset and enhance the value of rice to better serve export markets.

* $1 = VND 26,105 (source: Vietcombank).