Sugarcane linkages: Boosting yields through mechanization

Changing mindsets through pilot models

These days, farmers in Khanh Hoa are busily entering the peak harvest of the 2025–2026 sugarcane crop. In Hoa Tri commune, one of the locality’s key sugarcane-growing areas, the shift from traditional to modern farming practices is reflected in impressive productivity figures.

A typical example is Nguyen Minh Nhan's family, residents of Tan Dinh commune who directly cultivate sugarcane in the Ninh Thuong sub-zone of Hoa Tri commune. Although he has only been involved in sugarcane farming for about 4-5 years and had limited prior experience, his family’s production practices have undergone a significant transformation since joining a value chain linked with the sugar mill of Agris Ninh Hoa Import-Export Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Nhan shared that in the early years, due to limited technical knowledge, his family’s sugarcane yields were unstable, remaining at a modest level of around 50-60 tons per hectare.

A real turning point came in this crop season when his family received close technical support from the company, particularly in proper land preparation and the introduction of mechanized planting to replace manual labor. His cultivation process now clearly reflects the application of science and technology.

He has proactively adopted basal application of bio-organic fertilizers to promote even and healthy early growth of the cane. As the crop enters its vigorous growth stage, he applies NPK fertilizer in two phases, with a total amount ranging from 1-1.2 tons per hectare. Notably, he uses unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to apply fertilizer, optimizing nutrient use and ensuring uniform coverage across the entire field.

Thanks to this systematic and science-based investment, his family’s average sugarcane yield has reached 80 tons per hectare. With a total area of 7 hectares, the family earns a stable profit of around VND 25-30 million per hectare after deducting costs, despite a slight decline in raw sugarcane purchase prices compared to last year.

Sharing the same joy, Mr. Pham Viet Thanh (Hamlet 3, Hoa Tri commune) has also achieved high economic returns thanks to his close linkage with Agris Ninh Hoa. He places particular emphasis on soil improvement by increasing the use of factory-supplied organic fertilizers, helping to make the soil more рых and fertile.

A key factor behind his family’s outstanding yields of 90-100 tons per hectare is the ability to proactively manage irrigation water. He noted that by maintaining irrigation twice a month, the sugarcane is consistently provided with sufficient moisture to sustain continuous growth, avoiding interruptions caused by harsh weather conditions.

The effective combination of intensive manual techniques and mechanization has enabled his 3-hectare field to produce a total of 270 tons this season, generating a total profit of VND 120 million.

Reducing labor burden

One of the biggest constraints for sugarcane farmers has long been harvesting and transportation. Labor shortages, coupled with rising costs for manual cutting, have left farmers in a passive and vulnerable position.

However, through value chain linkages, this long-standing challenge has gradually found a solution. Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhan greatly appreciates the sugar mill's coordinating role in reducing labor burdens for farmers. Instead of struggling to find and negotiate with manual harvesting crews as in previous seasons, the company now proactively arranges professional harvesting teams along with synchronized transportation.

This effective coordination has not only shortened the harvest time for his entire 7-hectare area from half a month to just about a week, but also eased pressure on farmers, giving them greater confidence to invest in future crops.

In the sugarcane-growing area of Tay Ninh Hoa commune, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, also emphasized that a key solution for developing the local sugarcane sector is to promote comprehensive mechanization. To achieve this, the commune has actively coordinated with sugar mills to plan concentrated production areas, creating favorable conditions for mechanized harvesting.

Local authorities and businesses have mobilized inter-provincial harvesting teams, combined with mechanical grabbers and transport vehicles, to implement a rolling harvest approach by area and cane age. This method not only ensures fast and efficient harvesting while maintaining sugar content quality for farmers, but also helps stabilize labor costs, avoiding fluctuations in the labor market during peak periods.

In addition, field restructuring is being implemented under a land consolidation roadmap, with an average plot size of over 2 hectares. The formation of larger plots is a prerequisite for machinery to operate efficiently across all stages, from land preparation, planting, and fertilization to weeding, thereby helping farmers significantly reduce production costs and ensure timely crop cycles. Timely technical support and transparency in procurement have become an important source of confidence for large-scale farming households.

In the case of Mr. Nguyen Hung Doanh in Tay Ninh Hoa commune, with a farming area of up to 11 hectares, he has remained committed to production thanks to long-term linkage contracts. Although rising fuel prices have increased transportation costs, the factory’s commitment to purchasing at stable sugar content levels of 9-10 CCS has helped farmers like Mr. Doanh overcome difficulties and continue cultivating sugarcane.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Hung, Deputy Head of the Economic Division of Tay Ninh Hoa commune, in the 2025-2026 crop season, the commune has more than 2,000 hectares of sugarcane. To date, over 1,000 hectares have been harvested. Field observations show that the average yield is currently around 61 tons per hectare, with an average sugar content (CCS) of 9.8. Based on this progress, the harvest across the commune is expected to be completed by mid-May, with an estimated average yield of 60 tons per hectare and average sugar content exceeding 10 CCS.

$ 1 = VND 26,113 - Source: Vietcombank.