Can Tho achieves VND 30 million/ha profit thanks to low-emissions winter-spring rice

The advanced rice model yields 8.8 - 9/5 tons/ha

On February 15, in Thanh Phu commune, Co Do district, the National Agricultural Extension Center along with Can Tho Agricultural Service Center and Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company held a preliminary seminar to review the high-quality, low-emissions rice model in the winter-spring crop 2024 - 2025.

This program is implemented by the National Agricultural Extension Center in coordination with Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company and agricultural extension centers and agricultural service centers of 12 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region.

In the case of Can Tho, the low-emissions rice project was implemented by the Can Tho City Agricultural Service Center at Tien Dung Agricultural Cooperative, Thanh Phu commune, Co Do district on an area of ​​50 ha. There were 20 farming households registered for participation.

The 2024 - 2025 winter-spring crop is the first time the cooperative applies the model, using the Dai Thom 8 rice variety with a sowing rate of 70 kg/ha. The cooperative members choose the sparse sowing methods, certified seed sources, synchronize technical advances in production such as "1 must 5 decreases", integrated pest management (IPM), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation, and utilize mechanization in sowing, rice harvesting and straw collection stages.

“Households carried out water withdrawal exactly four times according to the alternate wetting and drying irrigation process, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by practicing sparse sowing and basal fertilization. Using specialized fertilizers from Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company also helped reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed.

“As a result, rice yield in the model reached 8.8 - 9.5 tons/ha, an increase of 0.1 - 0.72 tons/ha compared to the control field. Profit reached approximately VND 30 million/ha, which is VND 5.9 - 8.9 million/ha higher than rice fields outside the model,” said Nguyen Van Dung, Director of Tien Dung Agricultural Cooperative.

Production costs reduced by VND 3 - 3.5 million/ha

According to Tran Thai Nghiem, Deputy Director of Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Can Tho is one of four provinces in the Mekong Delta implementing the emission reduction rice cultivation project. It is the first locality to harvest rice in the pilot models in the 2024-2025 winter-spring crop in this area.

This model helps farmers reduce seed density from 120 kg/ha to 60 - 70 kg/ha, and the combination of cluster sowing and basal fertilizer methods increases the efficiency of fertilizer use. The model’s ultimate goal is to reduce rice production costs to a minimum while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Through preliminary assessment, the model in Can Tho has reduced costs by VND 3 - 3.5 million/ha compared to traditional farming models, and profits show an increase of VND 5.9 - 8.9 million/ha. This is considered a very positive result as it further solidifies the faith of farmers. This new farming method will soon be widely replicated.

Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company is assigned with the project in Can Tho under the management of the National Agricultural Extension Center. The enterprise plans to develop six pilot models with a total farming area of 300 ha in four localities including Can Tho, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, and Dong Thap. The implementation period will be in two consecutive crops, the winter-spring crop and the 2025 summer-autumn, then Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company will summarize and evaluate the results for replication.

In 2024, Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development achieved many outstanding achievements and exceeded the planned targets. Particularly in the production sector, the area and output of rice, fruit trees, and aquatic products all increased sharply.

The rice area reached 212,614 ha, exceeding the plan by 3.68%, and the output was over 1.33 million tons, exceeding the plan by 9.41%. Aquatic production reached 259,358 tons, exceeding the plan by 22%. The city also promoted production in accordance with quality standards, ensuring food safety and transparency.

*USD 1 = VND 25,250 (Exchange rate updated on February 17, 2025)