Promoting the Project to cultivate 1 million hectares of high-quality rice.

Building a model

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in 2024, the entire province implemented 22 models participating in the project with an area of 1,117 hectares. Of these, 18 models were implemented using funds under Government Decree 62/2019/ND-CP; 4 models were implemented strictly according to the criteria of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment . In addition, there were other models implemented according to one of the criteria of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and sustainable agricultural transformation project areas (VnSAT). Overall, the area applying the procedures of the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project was 8,536 hectares out of 20,609 hectares, reaching 41.4% of the planned area.

Localities that actively participated in the project included Tri Ton, Chau Thanh, Thoai Son, Phu Tan, and Chau Phu. Chau Phu was chosen as the pilot location to organize the Harvest Festival for rice fields participating in the project, creating momentum to encourage other localities in the province to participate. According to Le Quoc Phong, Vice Chairman of the Chau Phu District People's Committee, implementing breakthroughs in agricultural development as outlined in the District Party Congress Resolution for the 2020-2025 term, the district has established 10 out of 14 concentrated production areas, achieving 71.43% of the plan. To meet the increasing demands of the market, the Chau Phu district agricultural sector has coordinated with other sectors, localities, and socio-political organizations to actively encourage farmers to participate in the project, achieving positive results.

“With the determination of the entire district's political system, the support of specialized agencies, the cooperation of businesses, and especially the support of farmers, in the 2024-2025 winter-spring crop season, we implemented 16 rice production models according to the project's cultivation process, covering an area of over 250 hectares. To date, the Chau Phu district's agricultural sector has mobilized farmers to produce rice according to the project's process on 2,753/2,483 hectares, achieving 110.88% of the planned target. This is an encouraging achievement, creating motivation for us to continue striving towards the goal of having 22,983 hectares participating in the project throughout the district by 2030,” Mr. Le Quoc Phong emphasized.

Strengthen support for cooperatives in adopting mechanization during their participation in the project.

Mr. Le Quoc Phong also stated that the Chau Phu District People's Committee will continue to coordinate with relevant departments and levels to support farmers in expanding the area of rice cultivation that meets the standards according to the project. They will promote production linkages along the value chain, build local rice brands to increase competitiveness in the market, and ensure sustainable and green production development.

Promote the project

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Hiep, in 2025, An Giang aims to have 44,051 hectares participating in the project, based on the area of the previous VnSAT project zone, areas implementing advanced techniques such as "3 reductions, 3 increases", "1 must, 5 reductions", and models replicated with funding support from the State and businesses.

“The fundamental advantage is that we have received consistent attention and guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial People's Committee throughout the implementation of the project. At the same time, several localities have participated in the VnSAT and WB9 projects, creating momentum for the project's implementation in 2025. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Environment and other provincial departments and agencies have proactively and promptly implemented policies on rice cultivation land and production plans for each season, creating a basis for localities to encourage farmers to actively participate in the project. Especially, the active involvement of the community-based agricultural extension system has helped farmers feel more confident in participating in the project,” Mr. Tran Thanh Hiep analyzed.

However, the number of businesses participating in linkages with cooperatives and cooperative groups to invest in and purchase products is still limited; farmers' knowledge and understanding of the project are still limited, and they still produce according to old practices; the negotiation, networking, and signing capacity of cooperatives and cooperative groups with businesses to implement the rice value chain is still limited… all of which have affected the progress of the project throughout the province.

To successfully achieve the project's goals in 2025 and beyond, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will intensify propaganda and raise farmers' awareness by clearly outlining the benefits they will receive from participating in the project. It will strengthen training and improve the capacity of agricultural extension workers in connecting with and guiding cooperatives and production groups to implement high-quality rice cultivation processes. It will also actively disseminate knowledge about the market, digital transformation, and guidance on selling agricultural products on e-commerce platforms.

Simultaneously, intensify training and awareness-raising activities to build models that thoroughly apply the rice production process according to the plan issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Focus investment and equip cooperatives and cooperative groups to apply synchronized mechanization in production as a prerequisite for promoting and expanding the model according to the plan. Support cooperatives, cooperative groups, and farmers in accessing policy packages from the central and provincial governments. Discuss with credit institutions to implement credit packages suitable to the conditions and capabilities of cooperatives and cooperative groups to ensure financial resources for rice production according to the plan...

MINH QUAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/thuc-day-de-an-1-trieu-ha-lua-chat-luong-cao-a418616.html