The Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has just coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province to summarize 7 pilot models of the Project on Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030.
According to the project, there are currently 7 pilot models of rice cultivation to reduce emissions in 5 provinces of the Mekong Delta including: Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap and Can Tho City. Of which, in the Summer-Autumn crop, 4 pilot models with an area of nearly 200 hectares have been harvested.
As a result, rice productivity in pilot models is about 0.2-0.7 tons/ha higher than outside production models depending on the locality; production costs are about 14-20% lower, so farmers' profits increase.
Regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction, the pilot model in Can Tho resulted in a reduction of 12 tons of CO2 equivalent/ha/crop compared to the model where continuous flooding and straw burying in the fields were not allowed. The model in Soc Trang reduced 4 tons of CO2/ha/crop and the model in Tra Vinh reduced 5.4 tons of CO2/ha/crop.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that the Ministry is negotiating with the World Bank and the Transition Carbon Finance Fund (TCAF) to complete procedures related to the pilot payment of carbon credits. From there, a payment mechanism will be developed and submitted to the Government for approval.
It is expected that in the Summer-Fall crop of 2025 or Winter-Spring crop of 2025-2026, carbon credit payments for the models can be piloted, with a source from the TCAF Fund of about 20 million USD. Accordingly, farmers participating in the project will receive additional support from selling carbon credits.
However, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam also emphasized and stated that the highest goal of the 1 million hectares of high-quality rice project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of reducing production costs, reducing emissions and increasing profits for farmers, not just selling carbon credits.
Based on the results achieved, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam requested the Department of Crop Production to coordinate with localities to advise on the upcoming Winter-Spring crop calendar. The previous 50-hectare pilot models can expand the area to adjacent plots.
Growing rice to reduce emissions: Profits increase, farmers also receive cash rewards After completing the harvest, many farmers in Can Tho City received cash rewards for growing rice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the "1 must, 5 reductions" farming package.
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