Sustainable development of sugarcane raw material areas

Sugarcane is one of the main crops, contributing to increasing the income of people in Thach Thanh district. However, in recent years, the economic efficiency of sugarcane has decreased, local people have converted the area of sugarcane with low economic efficiency to crops with higher economic efficiency. Therefore, to be worthy of the title of "capital" of sugarcane, Thach Thanh district has been implementing many solutions to maintain and develop the sugarcane material area stably and sustainably.

Sustainable development of sugarcane raw material areas Sugarcane raw material area is produced according to large model fields in Thach Cam commune (Thach Thanh). Photo: Le Hoa

Thach Cam is a commune in the key sugarcane production area, achieving high economic value in Thach Thanh district. Every year, the whole commune produces nearly 300 hectares of raw sugarcane, linked with Vietnam - Taiwan Sugarcane Company Limited. In order to build a high-yield and high-quality raw material area, the locality has used funds to support investment in the intra-field traffic system, repair irrigation pumping stations and provide training to improve the production level of the people. Up to now, in Thach Cam commune, 6.4 km of intra-field traffic has been hardened, more than 7.7 km of water canals have been invested in concreting, contributing to improving the efficiency of production and transportation of agricultural products. Along with that, the People's Committee of the commune has supported and assigned the task of sustainable development of the sugarcane raw material area to Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative.

Mr. Nguyen Van Doan, Director of Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative, said: "To promote the advantage of being a traditional sugarcane growing area, the Cooperative has mobilized resources and invested in machinery to mechanize sugarcane growing. Currently, the Cooperative has 4 misting irrigation machines and 1 sugarcane loading machine. During the season, the Cooperative also cooperates to rent ultra-light UAV equipment to spray pesticides on sugarcane areas simultaneously. Thanks to that, in recent years, the total sugarcane output of the whole commune has tended to increase. In the 2023-2024 crop year, the total output will reach about 21,368 tons, with an average yield of 73 tons/ha. Revenue from sugarcane production brings in about 26.7 billion VND, and people's lives are stable thanks to sugarcane.

It is known that in the 2024-2025 crop year, Thach Cam Agricultural Business Service Cooperative has guided local people to produce about 337 hectares of raw sugarcane, an increase of 44 hectares over the same period. By investing in the production of high-yield varieties such as KK3, Lam Son 1... and applying synchronous mechanization to production, Thach Cam commune is striving to build a high-yield sugarcane raw material area, estimated at 90 tons/ha, the total output of the commune will reach more than 30,000 tons, making sugarcane a key crop, bringing high income to the people.

Not only in Thach Cam but also in many other localities, such as Thanh Truc, Thanh Hung, Thach Son, Van Du town... people also focus on developing sugarcane material areas in a sustainable direction. Therefore, every year, the District People's Committee not only focuses on organizing training courses, improving sugarcane production skills for local people but also promotes investment in infrastructure, implementing synchronous mechanization in sugarcane production, encouraging people to accumulate and concentrate land to develop raw material areas. At the same time, coordinate with Viet - Dai Sugar Company Limited to organize the purchase of raw sugarcane at high and stable prices, ensuring income for local sugarcane growers.

Currently, to ensure raw material areas for the 2024-2025 pressing season, Thach Thanh district has planted more than 3,800 hectares of raw sugarcane, an increase of more than 10% compared to the previous crop. Of which, 820 hectares of raw sugarcane are produced in the form of intensive farming, applying synchronous mechanization on large-scale fields, bringing in revenue of more than 120 million VND/ha/year. In order to improve productivity and quality of raw sugarcane areas, the People's Committee of Thach Thanh district has directed communes and towns to encourage people to invest in intensive farming and apply synchronous mechanization in production. At the same time, the task is assigned to agricultural cooperatives as units to organize production, link and purchase raw sugarcane for people. In particular, most agricultural cooperatives cooperate with Vietnam - Taiwan Sugarcane Company Limited to strongly develop the service of providing deferred fertilizer, seeds and production techniques for sugarcane growers. Along with that, communes and towns have been focusing on building closely linked and sustainable production chains, ensuring the harmony of interests between sugarcane growers and businesses; encouraging the formation of cooperatives and cooperatives linked with businesses to invest in developing large sugarcane fields using high technology to increase productivity and product quality.

Le Hoa

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