Hung Long 555 rice variety yields more than 10 tons/ha in the Mekong Delta

Farmers visit demonstration fields of the Hung Long 555 purebred rice variety in the 2024-2025 winter-spring crop in Binh Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, An Giang province. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Outstanding productivity, free of pests and diseases

On March 20, in Binh Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, An Giang province, International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company (IAS) organized a field workshop to evaluate the purebred rice variety Hung Long 555 in the 2024-2025 winter-spring crop.

The workshop attracted the participation of many farmers in the Southeast and Mekong Delta provinces, along with scientists and businesses to evaluate the farming efficiency, productivity, rice quality and potential for expanding production of this rice variety in the future.

At the workshop, many farmers directly cultivating Hung Long 555 rice shared positive reviews about this rice variety. Mr. Huynh Cong Nhiep in Binh Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, An Giang province said: “I have been cultivating this rice variety for the 4th crop. In previous crops, I only produced on 8 hectares, but this crop the area has increased to 30 hectares. Hung Long 555 has high yield, stable selling price, especially the ability to resist pests and diseases very well, especially blast disease. After 4 crops, I have not seen blast disease in my rice fields. In this year's winter-spring crop, the estimated yield can reach 1.2 - 1.3 tons/cong (cong 1,300m2), equivalent to 9.6 - 10.4 tons/ha. Hung Long 555 rice has export potential thanks to its good rice quality, soft rice, rich flavor, meeting the requirements of demanding markets".

Mr. Le Ngoc Anh, author of the Hung Long 555 rice variety and Director of the International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company (middle) said that this rice variety will be officially licensed for circulation nationwide from July 2024. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

According to Mr. Nhiep, in the summer-autumn and autumn-winter crops of 2024, the rice bloomed right when it rained continuously but the yield was still stable, without grain smudging or leaf burn. The cost of plant protection drugs was also significantly reduced. On average, each crop helped save about 100,000 - 200,000 VND/cong thanks to less need to spray pesticides and significantly reduce the amount of fertilizer. After deducting costs, the profit was about 3.5 - 4 million VND/cong.

Similarly, Mr. Vo Cong Tac in Thanh My Tay commune, Chau Phu district, An Giang has 50 hectares of rice land but reserved 18 hectares to grow Hung Long 555 variety in the winter-spring crop and also highly appreciates this rice variety: “I see that the rice is good, the flowers are long, the grains are bright. When sowing sparsely by machine, about 17kg/cong (1,300m2) the rice flowers are long and firm, less susceptible to pests and diseases, the yield is from 1.2 - 1.3 tons/cong. Thanks to this rice variety, I have reduced 15 - 20% of fertilizer and pesticide costs compared to previous rice varieties”.

In this year's winter-spring crop, An Giang farmers cultivating the Hung Long 555 rice variety are estimated to yield 1.2 - 1.3 tons/cong (cong 1,300m2), equivalent to 9.6 - 10.4 tons/ha. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Suitable for inclusion in the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice

According to Mr. Le Ngoc Anh, author of the Hung Long 555 rice variety and Director of the International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company, this rice variety was selected and created in 2013 and officially licensed for circulation nationwide from July 2024. Mr. Anh emphasized that the Mekong Delta is currently facing the impact of climate change, which is increasingly affecting agricultural production.

The Hung Long 555 variety was selected to adapt to difficult growing conditions, especially resistant to pests such as leaf blast, neck blast, leaf blight and brown planthopper. This variety has been successfully grown from North to South with a yield of 10 - 12 fresh tons/ha, even up to 13 fresh tons/ha in some places in the Central Highlands. In addition to high yield, Hung Long 555 also has good rice quality.

Hung Long 555 rice variety is completely suitable for inclusion in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

The white rice ratio of this variety is up to 95.7%, amylose content is 16.2%, the rice is soft, rich in flavor, meeting export requirements, suitable for production in the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project.

Currently, International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company is cooperating with farmers and businesses to expand production area, meet market demand, and increase export value.

Mr. Anh added that according to the current development orientation of Vietnam's rice industry, the transition to high-quality rice varieties, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving economic efficiency is an inevitable trend. With outstanding advantages in productivity, rice quality, resistance to pests and diseases and saving production costs, Hung Long 555 is becoming a reliable choice for many farmers in the Mekong Delta.

Hung Long 555 rice variety is highly appreciated by farmers in the Mekong Delta and Southeast and will expand its acreage in the following crops. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

At the workshop, many farmers expressed their desire to expand the area of ​​Hung Long 555 in the coming crops. International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company (IAS) pledged to continue providing technical support, supplying quality seeds and connecting with consuming businesses to ensure stable output for farmers.

From practical results, Hung Long 555 rice variety has affirmed its position and contributed to promoting participation in the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice in the Mekong Delta region.

The purebred rice variety Hung Long 555 was selected and created by the International Agricultural Seed Joint Stock Company (IAS), and has been granted a circulation decision in 6 ecological regions by the Department of Crop Production - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment). In the Mekong Delta and Southeast, Hung Long 555 was granted a circulation decision No. 331/QD-TT-CLT dated July 15, 2024. The winter-spring crop grows from 100 - 105 days, the summer-autumn crop 90 - 95 days, the yield is around 10 tons/ha, P 1,000 grains 25 - 26 grams. Rice ratio 79.5%, milled rice 84.7%, whole rice 87.2%, Amylose 16.2%, white rice ratio 95.3%. The rice is delicious, soft, and flavorful. In recent seasons, Hung Long 555 has been produced and increasingly expanded in the Western provinces.