To protect the production environment, ecological environment, create clean products, protect human health, the agricultural and rural development sector of the province in particular and the whole country in general is gradually shifting to production according to organic farming methods. This is not a new production direction because farmers have done it before but now return after decades of using inorganic farming methods and suffering its harmful effects. However, the return now is to apply scientific and technical advances to build a sustainable production, adapt to climate change and bring many economic, social and environmental benefits. Organic production in the province is currently applied to many types of plants and animals with effective production linkage models.
Transplanting rice seedlings in trays in organic rice production in Vinh Linh replaces the traditional direct sowing method of farmers. - Photo: VTH
Following the success of organic rice production cooperation models in Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, Vinh Linh, in 2023, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center continued to cooperate with Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company to expand this model to many localities in the province. The model of "Organic rice production using tray seedlings and transplanters linked to product consumption" at Tien My Cooperative, Vinh Lam Commune, Vinh Linh District, with an area of 14 hectares, using high-quality rice varieties ST25 in 2023 was a complete success.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan is one of 17 households participating in the model at Tien My Cooperative, said that the implementation of the production model at the Cooperative was quite favorable because in the previous crops, households had produced organically, now the techniques were proficient, and the fields had their own water. Participating in the model, households have their products guaranteed, creating stable output for farmers, bringing economic efficiency, optimal profits, protecting the ecological environment and increasing social benefits.
To implement the model, participating households were supported by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center with 50% of seeds and materials, and Quang Tri Trading Corporation lent the remaining 50% of seeds and materials until the end of the season and purchased all rice in the model for farmers.
Farmers were trained in the technical process of organic rice production using tray seedlings and transplanters and strictly followed the instructed techniques during the production process. The seedlings were transplanted with 3 leaves, using 450 trays/ha (equivalent to 50 kg of seeds/ha). Throughout the season, the rice plants grew healthily, with fewer pests and diseases than in conventional fields.
Farmers use homemade biological products from ginger, chili, and garlic to prevent and control pests in rice instead of pesticides, helping to maintain the field ecosystem and create safe products. Spraying work is also done by drones, reducing labor, and the amount of sprayed products is more uniform and concentrated.
Farmers use products such as fish protein, fermented stem water, bone calcium phosphate, eggshell calcium... instead of chemical fertilizers to help strengthen rice plants and limit harmful pests. Egg and milk products supplement minerals and nutrients for delicious rice grains, firm rice grains, low rate of broken rice, products that meet organic standards.
Through the process of implementing the model, it shows that the rice plants grow well, the leaves are green, moderately green from the beginning of the crop to the end of the crop, less susceptible to pests and diseases, blooming evenly, concentrated, showing off the flowers, especially the rice stems are sturdy, not falling due to rain and wind. The fresh rice yield is about 60 - 65 quintals/ha, the company purchases at the field, farmers achieve a value of more than 80 million VND/ha, the profit is nearly 33 million VND/ha, 16 million VND/ha higher than rice cultivated by inorganic methods.
Director of Quang Tri Agricultural Extension Center Tran Can said: The implementation model has had a great impact on all three aspects of economy, society and environment.
In addition to increasing productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of products, the implementation of the model has raised awareness and changed people's farming methods in organic and sustainable rice production, ensuring safe products and unpolluted soil and water environments, contributing to protecting the environment and field ecosystems, suitable for adapting to current climate change.
The success of the model is the basis for other localities to learn and apply. Based on the results achieved, in the winter-spring crop this year and the coming years, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center will continue to build models and transfer organic farming science and technology to farmers, especially in rice production.
Focus on building models with organized production linkages to consume products to increase added value for farmers and rapidly increase the area of organic production.
The organic rice model that the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is implementing is to concretize the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress, striving to achieve 1,000 hectares of organic rice in the whole province by 2025.
To produce organic rice sustainably, businesses need to participate in the chain to jointly supply input products and services and consume output products.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Phu Quoc said: In the coming time, the industry will step up coordination with units and localities to organize propaganda and mobilize farmers whose fields meet the conditions for intra-field traffic, irrigation and inter-regional and inter-plot planning to link production of large organic rice fields.
Agencies and units in the industry focus on guiding the processes and technical advances so that farmers can properly implement the model. At the same time, they actively call on businesses to participate in production linkages to ensure input and output of production for farmers.
Linking agricultural production according to organic farming methods is a direction that brings many benefits and is sustainable, building the brand of Quang Tri organic rice for consumption nationwide.
Vo Thai Hoa
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