Can Tho embraces biological alternatives to reduce chemical use in rice farming

Enhanced pest management capacity

While biological inputs are becoming more common in rice farming, the transition away from conventional practices is still gradual. Many farmers remain hesitant, mindful of possible impacts on yields and pest control.

Recently, the Can Tho Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Center, in partnership with the Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Viet Nam (IAS) and Phuong Dong Organic Biological Joint Stock Company, piloted a fully biological rice farming model during the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop in Vi Tan Ward, Can Tho City, with early results showing encouraging signs.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dieu, one of the early adopters, applied a full suite of biological solutions on his 1-hectare ST25 rice field, including the microbial product Bio Lacto EM alongside foliar fertilizers such as Ecovic Amino, Aminolom 40, Trico Vic Phosimax, and Dota Kali.

His records show total production costs of around VND 18.8 million per hectare - more than VND 2.5 million lower than conventional practices - largely thanks to a roughly 40% reduction in fertilizer applications and pesticide use.

Importantly, these savings did not come with added risk. The crop developed steadily, with minimal pest pressure.

After visiting the model, Mr. Chau Van Chinh from An Truong commune in Vinh Long province said he has adopted a similar approach. His 1-hectare Dai Thom 8 field, now just 19 days from harvest, has been grown without any chemical pesticides.

Despite rice prices being around VND 5,800 per kilogram, cutting input costs by about VND 4 million per hectare has helped him maintain profits.

Beyond cost savings, the model supports more proactive pest control. As Mr. Dieu noted, biological products do not act as immediate treatments like chemical pesticides but are effective in prevention.

Instead of spraying only when pests appear, early application of Bio Lacto EM helps maintain ecological balance in the field, limiting pest development from the outset.

He also strictly adheres to the seasonal calendar issued by the Can Tho Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, along with technical guidelines from extension services, thereby improving the effectiveness of integrated pest management.

In practice, although pest outbreaks were significant in the previous winter-spring crop, this season the fields remain largely pest-free near harvest. Rice blast has not appeared, brown planthoppers have caused no damage, while leaf folders and stem borers have declined by 60-70%.

Addressing persistent challenges in rice production

Mr. Doan Ngoc Than, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services, said the model’s core objective goes beyond cost reduction. It also aims to tackle longstanding challenges in rice production, such as in-field straw treatment, reducing open burning, protecting the environment, and gradually fostering safer farming practices.

After two cropping seasons, results show that cutting chemical inputs does not mean lower yields. On the contrary, it opens up opportunities to enhance product value, particularly if production shifts toward organic and safe standards.

More importantly, the model is gradually reshaping farmers’ mindsets. As Mr. Chau Van Chinh shared, holding back from spraying at the first sign of pests initially made him uneasy, as it ran counter to long-held habits. It was only after seeing the results from early adopters and receiving guidance from authorities, researchers, and businesses that he felt confident to adopt the approach.

According to Mr. Chu Chung Kien from the Plant Protection Department of the Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Viet Nam, biological products can, in principle, fully replace chemical inputs in rice pest management if applied properly and consistently.

A broad range of biological solutions is now available for rice farming, including beneficial fungi such as white and green strains and Trichoderma, as well as bacterial agents like Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis (BT).

When combined with products like Bio Lacto EM, they can form a closed-loop biological process capable of managing pests comprehensively. However, Mr. Kien noted that microorganisms are highly sensitive to environmental and climatic conditions, underscoring the need for further research to identify strains suited to specific ecological zones.

He also stressed that transitioning to biological farming is a long-term process requiring support from policy, science and technology, as well as farmers’ persistence.

Despite the challenges, early results from the model have strengthened farmers’ confidence. Many outside the pilot have begun exploring the approach and are ready to expand it. With continued support and scaling up, the model could not only improve farmers’ incomes but also align with the sector’s broader goals of emissions reduction and green development.