Can Tho to apply new technologies for high-quality, low-emission rice production

Bringing technological advances to the fields

On June 4, the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Services, in collaboration with Bayer Viet Nam Co., Ltd., the Long Phu Commune People's Committee, Binh Dien Fertilizer JSC, Phan Tan Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd., Viet Nam Rice Co., Ltd. (Vinarice), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), held a workshop to launch the Bayer Forward Farming model for the 2026 summer-autumn rice crop.

The workshop attracted representatives from the agricultural sector, businesses, cooperatives, and around 100 farmers in Long Phu commune. The event aims to help farmers gain access to new technological advances while gradually establishing a high-quality, low-emission rice production area that meets the requirements of the Project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta.

According to Ms. Huynh Huu Hieu, an official from the General Affairs and Services Division of Long Phu Commune, Can Tho City, approximately 4,800 hectares of rice have been sown across the commune for the 2026 summer-autumn crop. The locality is currently stepping up communication and providing technical guidance to help farmers adopt the processes under the One Million Hectare Project, with the aim of improving production efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Ms. Hieu noted that one of the key requirements is the use of mechanization and field surface leveling to facilitate water management and mechanization of production. Farmers are also encouraged to use certified seeds and reduce seeding rates to around 7.5-9 kg/cong, roughly 50% lower than traditional farming practices.

Lower seeding rates help rice plants grow more vigorously, reduce pest and disease pressure, cut input costs, and create favorable conditions for adopting advanced field management measures. In addition, farmers are guided in implementing irrigation water management techniques, balanced fertilizer application, and environmentally friendly post-harvest residue management solutions.

At the workshop, representatives of participating businesses and organizations introduced many synchronous solutions for high-quality rice production, from seeds, agricultural inputs, and mechanization to consumption linkages.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tran Anh Huan, Market Development Specialist at Bayer Viet Nam Co., Ltd., the company has signed cooperation agreements and coordinated with multiple units to implement models supporting the One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Project in several localities, including Can Tho, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Tay Ninh, An Giang, and Ca Mau.

The models are implemented on an area of 3-5 hectares/site and apply synchronous solutions, such as sparse sowing, balanced fertilizer application, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) water management, the use of pesticides that meet export standards, and strengthened consumption linkages. In parallel, training courses are organized at the beginning, middle, and end of each crop season to help farmers grasp modern cultivation techniques.

Mr. Huan added that the Bayer Forward Farming project has been implemented in the Mekong Delta since 2023, focusing on rice production, with more than 6,700 farmers participating and covering nearly 10,000 hectares. Through over 100 training sessions and field visits, the model has delivered positive results, including a 50-70% reduction in seeding rates, a 30-50% decrease in nitrogen fertilizer use, water savings of up to 30%, and greenhouse gas emission reductions of 13.7%-28.4%. At the same time, rice yields have increased by 0.6-13.5%, while farmers' profits have risen by 13.1-74.16%. Many production areas have met the export standards required for the European market.

Multi-stakeholder linkages promote low-emission rice production

A key feature of the Bayer Forward Farming model is the participation of multiple partners across the rice value chain, including input suppliers, mechanization enterprises, international organizations, and rice purchasing and exporting enterprises.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, an official of GIZ, through its cooperation program with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and local authorities, GIZ is coordinating with Bayer, Binh Dien, Phan Tan, Vinarice, and other partners to support the development of low-emission rice production processes.

One of GIZ's key areas of support is the completion of a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system that aligns with international standards. The outcomes will contribute to Viet Nam's MRV system, providing a scientific basis for verifying greenhouse gas emissions while creating opportunities to support carbon credit generation programs for stakeholders across the rice value chain and attract investment in carbon credit development.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mai Van Than, a marketing officer at Binh Dien Fertilizer JSC, said the enterprise continues to accompany farmers through the “Green Journey – Healthy Soil, Healthy Crops” program in the Mekong Delta.

Binh Dien is currently introducing a range of new nutritional solutions to support high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation and improve soil fertility. Among them is the Dau Trau Bio Canxi product, which contains beneficial microbial strains that help decompose phosphorus, cellulose, and rice straw while also supporting natural nitrogen fixation in the soil.

Additionally, the specialized fertilizer lines Dau Trau Bio Rice 1 and Dau Trau Bio Rice 2 are supplemented with beneficial microorganisms and a balanced nutrient system, helping rice plants grow healthily, improve resistance to pests and diseases, and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in the field.

According to Mr. Mai Nam, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Services, through the Bayer Forward Farming model, stakeholders expect to establish effective demonstration sites, enabling farmers to access new technologies, raise awareness of green agricultural production, and gradually replicate the model across Can Tho City. This is considered an important direction to successfully implement the goal of developing high-quality, low-emission rice material areas and enhancing the value of rice in the context of increasingly urgent demands for sustainable agricultural development.