Mekong Delta to strengthen rice value chain, meet export standards

Forming large raw material zones

On December 18, in Go Quao commune, the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center held a seminar titled "Consumption Linkages Along the Rice Value Chain to Meet MRL Standards under the Large-Scale Rice Field Project for Raw Material Zone Development and Climate Change Adaptation." The event brought together more than 50 delegates, including farmers, cooperatives, specialized sectors, local governments, and enterprises engaged in rice procurement and processing for export.

An Giang is the province with the largest rice cultivation area in the Mekong Delta. In 2025, the province planted more than 1.3 million hectares of rice, with estimated output of around 8.8 million tons, making a significant contribution to both domestic consumption and exports. However, traditional rice cultivation practices still face many bottlenecks, including overuse of chemical fertilizers, excessive nitrogen application, which increases NO₂ emissions; straw burning, which generates CO₂; and straw burial under flooded conditions, which causes CH₄ emissions. In particular, the uncontrolled use of pesticides has resulted in environmental pollution and posed risks to public health.

Meanwhile, global markets are increasingly tightening requirements on traceability, food safety, and maximum residue limits (MRLs). Rice cultivation based on traditional practices can easily become a barrier for the entire value chain. In response to these requirements, the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center was assigned to implement the "Large-Scale Rice Field" project to develop the raw material zone and adapt to climate change during 2022–2025, to reorganize production.

From 2022 to 2025, the project was implemented across 5,582 hectares with 73 fields, involving more than 2,000 farmer households. Each field covers at least 50 hectares, with some reaching up to 275 hectares. Notably, the project prioritizes concentrated production areas with uniform rice varieties to achieve higher export volumes. At the same time, it creates conditions for farmer organizations (cooperatives and cooperative groups) to enhance their management and operational capacity and to serve as focal points for contract signing and implementation.

According to Dr. Le Van Dung, Deputy Director of the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center, developing large-scale rice fields is not simply about consolidating farmland into larger plots, but rather a model of linkage among farmers, cooperatives, enterprises, and specialized agencies in the direction of uniform processes, varieties, crop calendars, and common standards. In other words, for rice to reach far, it must begin with cleaning the fields and doing things right from the very start of the crop season.

In this model, farmer organizations are at the center of the value linkage chain. Farmers voluntarily join these organizations and commit to strictly applying standardized processes, controlling inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and cultivation techniques, and maintaining production records. Harvesting at the same time and achieving sufficiently large output are key conditions for signing consumption contracts and effectively meeting market requirements, including MRL standards.

Increasing profits by more than VND 6.6 million/ha

The "Large-Scale Rice Field" project implemented by the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center aims to reorganize production under a single set of standardized procedures. Regarding seed, project farmers use 100% certified seed (Certified Seed Level 1). Priority is given to high-quality varieties such as Dai Thom 8, OM18, DS1, and ST25 (for rice–shrimp farming areas). Sowing density has also been tightened. During 2022–2024, the density was set at no more than 100 kg/ha, and it was reduced to 70 kg/ha by 2025. Reducing seeds not only lowers production costs but also decreases pest and disease pressure, thereby reducing the need for pesticide applications and better meeting MRL requirements.

Regarding input materials, the project has shifted from a traditional reliance on chemical fertilizers to bio-organic fertilizers and straw treatment solutions. During the 2022–2024 period, farmers were supported with a diversified input package that combined inorganic fertilizers, microbial organic fertilizers, bio-organic fertilizers, and straw treatment preparations to reduce field burning. This direction is suitable in the context of many rice-importing markets that are increasingly emphasizing sustainability, traceability, and safety.

In parallel, the project has applied technology in pest management and irrigation. Specifically, 10 smart pest monitoring stations, integrated with alternate wetting and drying (AWD) sensors, were supported for installation in the fields. This system helps identify and record pest populations, providing warnings and forecasts through management software. Hundreds of AWD sensor tubes were installed to regulate field water levels.

The project has also enabled enterprises to sign procurement contracts based on mutual benefit. During the 2022-2025 period, the area under consumption linkages reached 4,556 hectares. Enterprises participating in these linkages include Thoai Son Food One Member Limited Liability Company, Nong Phat Dat Company Limited, Duc Hiep Development Investment Joint Stock Company, VinaTech, Dai Duong Xanh Import-Export Company Limited, and Trung An High-Tech Farming Joint Stock Company.

Economic efficiency is the most convincing measure for farmers to continue maintaining and scaling up the model. Thanks to the application of advanced cultivation processes, farmers reduced production costs by an average of about VND 3.3 million/ha and increased profits by more than VND 6.6 million/ha compared to areas outside the models.

After multiple crops, the "Large-Scale Rice Field" project has helped farmer groups establish new production practices, including operating under unified processes, maintaining production records, and signing consumption linkage contracts. This forms a solid foundation for An Giang's rice value chain to move toward the broader goals of better meeting market demand, increasing farmer incomes, and adapting to climate change.

Notably, the project prioritizes concentrated production zones with uniform varieties, targeting large output for export while also creating conditions for cooperatives and cooperative groups to enhance their management and operational capacity and to serve as focal points for signing and implementing production linkages.

* USD 1 = VND 26,408 (Source: Vietcombank)