Viet Nam to restore vitality to 'weary' rice fields

Farmers must recognize when their soil is “unwell”

As part of the forum “Soil Health for Rice Cultivation - The Foundation for Green and Sustainable Development,” organized on October 29 by the Soils and Fertilizers Institute in collaboration with the Viet Nam Rice Sector Association and the Viet Nam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper, delegates participated in a panel discussion titled “Healthy Soil - Green Vietnamese Rice.”

The session included discussions on partnerships for restoring and improving the health of rice-growing soils, aiming toward a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector.

According to Ms. Luong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hai Phong, not only Hai Phong but many other localities are truly facing the threat of “weak soil,” as farmlands have become “exhausted” after years of intensive cultivation and continuous cropping seasons without rest.

Sharing a story from the former Hai Duong province, Ms. Kiem recalled the period when the watermelon and melon cultivation movement boomed, bringing high income to farmers. However, one day, the crops suddenly began to wither - the leaves turned yellow and plants died en masse. Believing that the crops lacked nutrients, farmers increased the use of fertilizers and pesticides, yet their fields continued to decline. It was only after soil tests that they realized the land had truly become “sick” - organic matter was depleted, soil pH had dropped sharply, and the soil microbiome had been almost completely destroyed.

“At that moment, we understood that we couldn’t save the plants once the soil was already weak. To keep the crops healthy, we must start by restoring the health of the soil. From that realization, the locality began to change its approach - focusing on soil rehabilitation and revitalization, nurturing the land as one would care for a patient,” Ms. Kiem shared.

According to Ms. Kiem, Hai Phong’s story also carries a more urgent message: management agencies, local authorities, and technical staff must help raise awareness across society, especially among farmers, who are directly connected to the land, about the crucial role of soil health in agricultural production.

“In Hai Phong, farmers earn high incomes from agriculture, particularly from large areas of winter-season vegetables. A proper understanding of soil health is the foundation for a green, efficient, and sustainable agricultural system,” Ms. Luong Thi Kiem emphasized.

Sharing Ms. Kiem's viewpoint, Mr. Vu Nang Dung, Chairman of the Viet Nam Soil Science Society, emphasized that soil health is not only a matter for scientists but must first reach the farmers—those who till, sow, and nurture the land with their own hands every day.

“The groups that need to understand soil health most clearly are farmers, managers, and businesses. But above all, it is the farmers. They must know whether their soil is healthy or weak, especially in areas cultivating key crops,” Mr. Dung stated.

According to him, intensive farming, particularly rice cultivation, has overexploited the soil for a long time, depleting it faster than it can recover. Soil nutrients have become imbalanced, its structure has been weakened, and the soil ecosystem has been degraded. Compared with the fertile paddies of the past, today’s farmland is far more “exhausted,” with less humus, less vitality, and an almost vanished underground ecosystem.

Mr. Dung emphasized that restoring soil health requires a long-term vision and a generational strategy. The core of this strategy lies in giving back to the soil what has been taken from it - rebuilding organic matter, balancing pH levels, and revitalizing soil ecosystems. Only then can agriculture truly transition toward organic and low-emission production. He also highlighted the importance of making better use of agricultural by-products to meet increasingly stringent market standards both domestically and internationally.

Particularly stressing the role of the northern midland and mountainous regions - where large, well-cultivated rice fields remain and serve as vital ecological zones for the rice industry, Mr. Dung warned: “If those fields are lost, it would be a tremendous loss not only economically but also as an agricultural heritage. Therefore, dedicated programs are urgently needed to enhance the quality and health of rice-growing soils in these areas.”

“Periodic health check-ups” for the soil

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Plant Production and Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, soil health is a fundamental factor determining the sustainable development of the crop production and plant protection sectors. She emphasized that it is time for a strong shift in awareness and communication so that society truly understands soil as a precious, finite, and irreplaceable resource.

In reality, not only farmers but even some local officials have yet to fully recognize the true value of soil in agricultural production. The prolonged overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has made the soil increasingly compacted, poor in organic matter, and gradually lifeless. According to Ms. Huong, part of the reason lies in the way communication and outreach have been conducted - often heavy on scientific theory but lacking accessibility and clarity for farmers.

She noted that the Department of Plant Production and Protection will develop specialized communication materials tailored for different groups, from farmers and businesses to policymakers, to help them better understand, observe, and care for soil health.

“Only when we have a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the current state of our soils can we take effective action to restore and enhance soil health,” Ms. Huong emphasized.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, former Director of the Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and representative of the Viet Nam Rice Sector Association, noted that the relationship between soil, crops, and fertilizers can only be sustainable when organic elements bound them together.

“To produce green rice, all inputs must first be green, from materials to cultivation methods, and finally, there must be green consumers, those who choose products out of environmental responsibility,” he emphasized.

According to Prof. Bo, realizing this goal requires concretizing policies and strategies for green agricultural development while conducting regular “health checks” for the soil to detect changes in a timely manner and apply appropriate interventions. This, he said, would lay the foundation for a circular agricultural economy—one in which soil is continually regenerated and nurtured over time.

From an overall perspective, Mr. Le Quoc Doanh, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Chairman of the Viet Nam Gardeners’ Association, noted that statistical data from research institutes sends an encouraging signal - the overall health of Viet Nam’s rice-growing soils remains relatively good. This is evidenced by the country’s stable rice yields and its strong, long-standing reputation in the global market.

However, Mr. Doanh emphasized that complacency must be avoided, as soil health forms the foundation for crop vitality, especially for rice, Viet Nam’s key and most strategic crop.

“The two decisive factors for soil health are nutrient management and farming practices aligned with land-use planning and irrigation system development. For rice, Viet Nam has implemented numerous programs and research projects to enhance sustainability and gradually establish standardized processes to restore soil health - ensuring that Vietnamese rice is not only delicious but also truly green,” Mr. Doanh shared.

According to Mr. Phan Van Tam, Deputy General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, the company has always upheld the principle that whatever it takes from the land, it must give back equally to the land together with farmers.

In the context of agriculture’s transition toward a greener and more sustainable model, Mr. Tam emphasized that improving the organic matter content of soil must be placed at the heart of this process. With the support of modern technology, Binh Dien is conducting research and implementing solutions to thoroughly treat rice straw directly in the fields, transforming post-harvest residues into high-quality organic fertilizer. This approach not only helps reduce environmental pollution caused by straw burning but also restores soil health - allowing crops in subsequent seasons to thrive in looser, more fertile, and biologically active soil.