Supply cannot meet demand.
In early September, in the border commune of Tri Le, Que Phong district, the rice fields of the winter-spring crop have grown high, green and are entering the stage of heading and flowering; the most cultivated rice variety is Khau Cay Noi sticky rice. This is a traditional variety that has been cultivated by people for many generations. However, in the past, Khau Cay Noi sticky rice was only grown to serve the needs of the family, not becoming a commodity, not bringing income to farmers like in recent years.
In Nong village, checking the Khau Cay Noi sticky rice fields that are about to bloom, Mr. Luong Van Hanh - Secretary of Nong village Party Cell said that in recent years, Khau Cay Noi sticky rice as well as Japonica rice have not been grown enough to sell.
"These two types of rice are always ordered in advance by traders every season. If a household accidentally sells out, even their family members will not have anything to eat. Many times, people want to buy them as gifts or to give to relatives, but they cannot buy them if they do not order in advance." - Mr. Luong Van Hanh said.
Ban Nong has more than 25.5 hectares of rice grown in two crops: spring and summer, of which more than 70% of the summer crop area is used by people to grow Khau cay noi sticky rice, while Japonica rice is only grown in the spring crop at a rate of over 80%.
Mr. Lu Van Cuong - Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee said that Tri Le Commune has 451 hectares of rice. There are two rice crops per year. Previously, people only grew rice for self-sufficiency and to serve a small number of local needs. In the past 3-4 years, rice has begun to become a commodity, especially Japonica rice and Khau Cay Noi sticky rice, bringing in a good income for many households; at the same time, it also helps to retain agricultural workers, making them more attached to agriculture.
For example, in the 2023 crop season, Tri Le has 317 hectares, over 90% of which are planted with Khau cay noi sticky rice, concentrated in lowland villages (Mong ethnic villages in highland areas do not grow seasonal crops). The reason why Tri Le people have been more focused on rice production in recent years is because they have had income from this traditional crop thanks to higher prices than other types of rice. Specifically, Khau cay noi rice costs 150 - 170 thousand VND/yen, while traders buy rice at home at an average price of 220 thousand VND/yen, 30-50 thousand VND/yen higher than other types of rice.
In Chau Kim commune, Japonica rice is grown on about 150 hectares in all 6 villages, with a yield of 50 - 55 quintals/ha. Mr. Ha Minh Tuan - Secretary of Chau Kim commune Party Committee said that this rice variety is currently promoting its economic value when all the production is purchased. The selling price is also 20 - 30 thousand VND/yen higher than other types of rice.
Confirming this, the head of Lien Phuong village, Chau Kim commune - Mr. Lo Van Tuan said that the whole village has 45 hectares of rice production land, in the spring crop they grow Japonica rice, and in the summer crop they grow Khau Cay Noi sticky rice and a few other types of rice for livestock farming.
Mr. Vi Hue - an officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Que Phong district said that the reason why people often grow a lot of Khau Cay Noi sticky rice in the winter-spring rice crop is to serve the Tet market. Japonica rice grown in Que Phong is mainly in the spring crop and is always in high demand, with high selling prices, bringing good income to farmers. Currently, the yield of Japonica rice in Que Phong is quite high at 55 - 60 quintals/ha, grown in all communes in the district, but most concentrated in the communes of Muong Noc, Tri Le, and Chau Kim. With an area of over 500ha, Japonica rice is grown annually, with an estimated output of over 200 tons/year, and a rice price of 150 - 180 thousand VND/yen, bringing in billions of VND in income for farming households.
According to consumers in Que Phong, rice cooked from Japonica rice has a rich flavor, is mildly sweet, fragrant, and does not dry out after a long time. In particular, this type of rice grown in Tri Le commune has a more delicious quality than that grown in other localities. Therefore, this specialty rice is always sought after and often "sold out".
Not yet fully exploited the potential of rice specialties
Despite such outstanding advantages, the consumption market for Japonica rice and Khau Cay Noi sticky rice of Que Phong currently mainly serves the needs of the district and communes of neighboring districts. Some traders buy and sell in more distant markets such as Vinh City and Hanoi, but mainly only meet the small quantity ordered by consumers.
We expressed our concerns about the fact that rice is sought after by the market and brings higher income than other types, but why the locality does not expand the planting area, Mr. Luong Van Hanh - Secretary of the Nong Village Party Cell, Tri Le Commune said, due to the limitations of the terrain and people's habits. Due to the high mountainous terrain, the rice fields are both small in area and have many levels, and people who want to increase the area find it difficult to find land.
In Chau Kim commune, according to Lien Phuong village chief Lo Van Tuan, although the economic value is high, the production is not enough to sell, but people still do not grow Japonica rice, Khau cay noi on the entire area, but only grow a part. "In addition to growing rice and crops, people also raise buffalo, cows, pigs, and chickens, so almost all families reserve some of their rice fields to grow other types of rice for livestock. And currently, Lien Phuong village has also cultivated rice almost to the maximum of the existing land area, it is difficult to expand further".
In early September 2023, Que Phong's summer-autumn rice fields were being attacked by brown planthoppers, but the Khau Cay Noi rice fields were still able to withstand the disease, showing no signs of disease. Talking about this, people in the communes and villages also affirmed the superiority of Khau Cay Noi rice in pest resistance.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Agricultural Service Center of Que Phong district also confirmed this characteristic of Khau Cay Noi rice. However, this highly disease-resistant rice variety has not yet been widely replicated in the entire district. In addition, Japonica rice and Khau Cay Noi sticky rice are not yet on the list of OCOP products of the district, which somewhat limits the ability to increase the economic value of these agricultural products.
Japonica rice is a short grain rice originating from Japan, one of the two main rice varieties in Asia. Japonica rice is widely grown and consumed in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. In Vietnam, Japonica rice was previously grown mainly in Dong Thap and An Giang provinces.
Japonica rice has some characteristics such as: round, regular, plump, white like cotton grains, delicate, light aroma. Japonica rice has a higher amylopectin content. Mainly contains substances such as Glucid, Lipit, Protein, sugar, vitamins and minerals. When cooked, the rice is white and sticky, easy to eat even when cooled, the rice grains still retain their inherent stickiness. Therefore, Japonica is the main food in Japanese meals.
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