New tech in low-emission rice farming

Proactive adaptation to climate change

On May 28, in Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province, the National Agricultural Extension Center, in coordination with Bayer Viet Nam Co., Ltd., organized a workshop titled “Promoting the transfer of technology and sustainable agricultural practices to support the 1-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice Scheme in the Mekong Delta.”

The event attracts representatives from the agricultural sector, the agricultural extension system, cooperatives, and farmers from many Mekong Delta localities. It is expected to serve as a platform connecting authorities, businesses, and farmers, thereby spreading modern production solutions that adapt to climate change and reduce emissions in the rice industry.

As the Mekong Delta faces increasingly severe impacts from climate change, drought, and saltwater intrusion, promoting the application of science and technology in agricultural production has become a matter of great urgency. Export markets are imposing stricter standards on quality, food safety, and carbon emissions, forcing the rice sector to transition toward a greener and more sustainable direction.

At the workshop, experts focus on analyzing the Mekong Delta's water resources and proposing solutions to improve water-use efficiency in agricultural production.

Providing in-depth analysis of current challenges, Dr. Hong Minh Hoang from the Mekong Institute - Can Tho University states that agriculture in the Mekong Delta faces three major risks: saltwater intrusion during the dry season, flooding from sea-level rise, and severe freshwater shortages.

Extreme climate fluctuations directly affect rice production, requiring localities to change their water management mindset toward more proactive and efficient approaches. One important solution proposed is decentralized water storage, maximizing available water resources for production and daily use.

Water use should follow the principle of proper purposes, suitability to actual conditions, and absolute avoidance of waste. Dr. Hong Minh Hoang discusses the limited existence of freshwater resources and their gradual decline due to climate change and overexploitation.

“Freshwater resources are not infinite and are gradually being depleted. Using water economically and efficiently from now on is the only way to maintain stability for both daily life and production in the future,” he says.

Alongside irrigation solutions, many opinions at the workshop also highlight the impact of digital technology in production management, as it would help smart farming models improve water-use efficiency, reduce costs, and better control emissions. This is an inevitable direction for the Mekong Delta rice sector to better adapt to the new context.

Expanding sustainable rice farming models

According to Nguyen Truong Vuong, Agricultural Affairs & LTO Lead at Bayer Viet Nam Co., Ltd., the business is strengthening public-private partnerships with the agricultural extension system to expand the ForwardFarming sustainable rice cultivation model associated with the 1-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice Scheme in the Mekong Delta.

In recent years, the model has achieved many positive results by helping farmers reduce seeding rates by 50-70%, cut fertilizer and irrigation water use, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also increasing yields and improving farmers’ profits.

Beyond technology transfer, Bayer has also coordinated with the National Agricultural Extension Center and local authorities to organize hundreds of training courses for farmers and cooperatives. The training focuses on smart farming solutions, such as water management for the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique, safe use of crop protection chemicals, chemical residue management, and rice grain quality improvement to meet export requirements.

Bayer aims not only to enhance the value of rice grains but also to accompany farmers in building sustainable agriculture, adapting to climate change, and moving toward green growth. It will continue expanding the model across more Mekong Delta provinces while strengthening training for community agricultural extension workers, cooperatives, and core farmers to spread modern production processes to every rice field.

Sharing the strategic direction of the agricultural extension system, Doan Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Extension Center under the National Agricultural Extension Center, says the extension system is shifting strongly from an agricultural production mindset to an agricultural economy mindset aligned with market demand.

The current goal is to organize production according to value chains based on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. This is considered an important solution to create breakthroughs in productivity and agricultural product quality while moving toward ecological agriculture, a modern countryside, and civilized farmers.

Amid ongoing administrative reforms, agricultural extension forces are being oriented to operate with the principle of staying close to farmers and grassroots communities, directly supporting farmers in accessing new technologies and technical advances. This will become an “extended arm” helping smart farming models be transferred more quickly and effectively to each locality, contributing to the successful implementation of the 1-million-hectare high-quality rice Scheme in the Mekong Delta.