19 agricultural innovations applied in rice production

19 agricultural innovations applied in rice production, bringing many sustainable and practical livelihood benefits to many Vietnamese households.

On the morning of February 26, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the CGIAR Impact Assessment Standing Committee (SPIA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam (MARD) organized a workshop on "Assessing the dissemination and application of CGIAR innovations in Vietnamese agriculture".

According to the SPIA Vietnam report presented at the workshop, by 2024, the widespread adoption of CGIAR initiatives in the agricultural sector will bring sustainable and practical livelihood benefits to 3.7 to 3.9 million Vietnamese households. In particular, the introduction of climate-resilient rice varieties into production will contribute to promoting Vietnam's integration into the global rice market.

The report identifies 19 important agricultural initiatives applied by Vietnamese farmers in rice production, such as building disaster risk maps and climate change adaptation plans (CS-MAP), crop weather bulletins, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation, etc.

Prof. Travis Lybbert, Chair of the CGIAR Standing Committee for Impact Assessment (SPIA), speaking at the workshop. (Photo: Le Thu)

At the workshop, experts and policy makers discussed the integration of monitoring the implementation of innovation initiatives into the national data system; strengthening the link between research and agricultural extension, and developing appropriate policies to promote the application of initiatives in areas with low application levels.

Participating in CGIAR programs, since 2013, Can Tho city has been one of the first localities to apply technical processes in rice production such as: "3 reductions, 3 increases" (reducing seeds, reducing pesticides, reducing nitrogen fertilizer); "1 must, 5 reductions" (must use certified rice seeds, reducing seeds, reducing pesticides, reducing nitrogen fertilizer, reducing water, reducing post-harvest losses).

The above programs contribute to reducing production costs, increasing productivity and product quality.

Assessing the importance of these contributions, Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu, Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Can Tho City, said: “ Practices in rice production have brought about positive results, helping rice growers increase their income by 10-20%, reduce fertilizer use by 10-15%, reduce pesticides by 20-30% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50% ”.

Farmers in Can Tho apply rice cultivation techniques according to the model "1 must, 5 reductions". (Photo: Le Thu)

Discussing further on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that despite achieving certain results, the application and expansion of scientific and technological advances and innovation still face many difficulties and challenges.

Challenges include low investment in scientific and technological research in agriculture compared to practical needs; mechanisms and policies to encourage science and technology have not met the needs of actors participating in this market....

In particular, the issue of climate change is becoming increasingly evident and recently, major changes in the organizational structure of Vietnam also pose huge challenges to science, technology and innovation.

To solve these difficulties and challenges, it is necessary to have the participation of all levels, sectors and localities, and the companionship and support of international organizations, including the CGIAR group of international agricultural institutes/centers.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/19-agricultural-innovations-duoc-ap-dung-trong-san-xuat-lua-gao-5039382.html