Bac Lieu Province successfully built and multiplied organic rice production model

In the winter-spring crop 2021-2022, the Agriculture and Rural Development Office of Phuoc Long District has piloted a model of organic rice production, adding organic fertilizer and reducing chemical fertilizer in a total area of over 110 ha.

There are 60 households participating in the model so far.

Pham Van Cau, of My I Hamlet in the district’s Vinh Phu Dong Commune, a farmer participating in the model said, currently, the price of agricultural inputs is increasing, especially, the price of fertilizer.

Thus, the use of organic fertilizer not only help farmers in reducing costs but also ensuring the quality of rice, he said.

Besides, it also helps to produce clean rice, protecting the health of consumers, he added.

His rice field covers a total of 2ha, growing Dai Thom 8 rice. He earned a profit of VND 3 million (USD 130) per one tonne of rice.

Cau said in the past, when he used chemical fertilizer, rice often suffered from leaf blast infection in the early winter-spring crop.

In the winter-spring crop 2021 - 2022, he switched to using more organic fertilizer, and he found that the rice was no longer susceptible to leaf blast infection and other diseases in the early part of the crop, he said.

Besides, rice trees, which is sprayed with organic fertilizer, has a very beautiful green colour leaves, he said.

Rice, which is sprayed with organic fertilizer, will be purchased by traders at a higher price than rice, which is sprayed with chemical fertilizer, he added.

The output market for rice with organic fertilizer is also given priority, he said.

Thai Thi Loan, deputy head of the district’s Agriculture and Rural Development Office said the abuse of chemical fertilizer and chemical pesticide not only affect the quality of rice grains but also put negative impacts to the health of producers and consumers as well as the price of rice is not stable.

The use of organic fertilizer for rice helps to both create clean and safe products and improve soil fertility, making rice to grow well, less susceptible to pests and diseases and more productive, she said.

Due to an increasing price of chemical fertilizer, the safe rice production model in the direction of using organic fertilizer has assisted farmers to reduce production costs, improving the quality and value of rice grains, she said.

The organic rice production model has initially brought high efficiency so far, she said.

Especially, after the model has been operated, local farmers have known the effectiveness of organic fertilizer such as improving soil, making rice grow well, less pests, reducing costs, and reducing 50 – 70 per cent of chemical fertilizer, she said.

She said the office will continue implementing other models of safe rice production in the coming time.

Organic fertilizers are naturally available mineral sources that contain moderate amount of plant essential nutrients. They are capable of mitigating problems associated with synthetic fertilizers. They reduce the necessity of repeated application of synthetic fertilizers to maintain soil fertility.

Luu Hoang Ly, Director of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department said the province is moving towards green agriculture and ecological agriculture by synchronously applying science and technology. For example, using economically input materials for agricultural production, using effectively natural resources and minimizing the impact on the environment and human health. Therefore, the agricultural sector will complete the structure of agricultural production in association with competitive advantages and market requirements. /.