Report CẦN THƠ – Expanding Sustainable, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation in the Mekong Delta

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has announced plans to broaden the scope of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta. This initiative forms part of the "Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" project, aiming to transform agriculture into a model that is both environmentally friendly and globally competitive.

 

Implemented over the past year, the project has introduced seven central-level models of rice cultivation in the provinces of Kiên Giang, Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Đồng Tháp, and Cần Thơ City. Minister of Agriculture and Environment Đỗ Đức Duy noted the project's apparent success in moving towards a modern, sustainable, and climate-resilient agricultural framework.

 

The project has shown tangible economic and environmental benefits, such as reducing production costs by 8.2-24.2%, increasing productivity by 2.4-7%, boosting farmers' profits by VNĐ4-7.6 million (US$150-270) per hectare, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by an average of two to 12 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare. Furthermore, the rice produced through these models has been bought at VNĐ200-300 per kilogram higher than standard market rates.

 

At the Tiến Thuận Co-operative in Cần Thơ, director Nguyễn Cao Khải reported successful outcomes in terms of yield and profitability, with farmers notably eager to engage in the project. Khải highlighted an additional benefit: using straw to cultivate mushrooms, generating an extra VNĐ3 million (US$115) per hectare, with the used straw later employed as organic fertiliser, reducing costs.

 

The project has garnered attention from international organisations and development partners, aiding in acquiring technology, credit, and market development. Participating farmers, co-operatives, and enterprises are increasingly committed to sustainable practices, such as advanced irrigation and proper fertiliser and straw management.

 

However, the project faces challenges, including slow progress in some areas, weak production links, farmer dependency on support, and lagging international fund disbursement due to procedural issues.

 

During a recent seminar in Cần Thơ City, stakeholders proposed solutions to enhance the project's reach and effectiveness by 2025. Key suggestions included strengthening the role of co-operatives in organising production and marketing, developing Việt Nam's rice brand, and forging stronger ties between enterprises, co-operatives, and farmers.

 

As this marks the end of the project’s first phase, the ministry has tasked localities with achieving low-emission cultivation targets, aiming for 312,743 hectares under this year's plan. Local governments will continue supporting the project through policy measures and funding from local budgets.

 

Minister Duy encouraged enterprises and co-operatives to align with their commitments and actively expand their roles in the project. He called for continuous collaboration between all stakeholders, including international organisations, to develop a sustainable value chain encompassing production, harvesting, processing, and exporting.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, alongside relevant ministries and sectors, plans to propose policy refinements and investment programmes to bolster regional infrastructure, further supporting this vital agricultural initiative.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Vietnam News 2025-05-08