Shobha Shetty, Global Director for Food and Agriculture at the World Bank (first, left) inspects rice grown under the emission-reducing farming model. — VNA/VNS Photo

CẦN THƠ — The World Bank is committed to mobilising additional non-refundable aid to support Việt Nam’s project on developing one million hectares of high-quality and low-carbon rice in association with green growth in the Mekong Delta region, a senior WB official has said.

Shobha Shetty, Global Director of the Agriculture and Food Global Practice at the World Bank, made the statement while making a field trip to a rice cultivation site at New Green Farm Cooperative in Thốt Nôts district, Cần Thơ city, on March 19.

The New Green Farm Cooperative currently comprises over 100 households cultivating 148 hectares of rice. It has been part of the project for three consecutive seasons.

According to Đồng Văn Cảnh, Head of the Cooperative, farmers have adopted the "One Must, Five Reductions" technique, which requires using certified seeds while reducing seeding rates, fertilisers, pesticides, water usage, and post-harvest losses.

Additionally, by integrating organic fertilisation from rice straw, farmers have been able to reduce chemical nitrogen fertiliser use by 40 per cent, lower production costs by nearly VNĐ1.7 million (US$67) per hectare per season and increase profits by VNĐ3.5 million per hectare per crop.

New Green Farm is also the first cooperative in Cần Thơ to adopt circular agriculture. Instead of discarding rice straw, cooperative members repurpose it to cultivate straw mushrooms and produce organic fertiliser, creating additional income streams.

"The circular economy model maximises the use of by-products, enabling farmers to earn more from selling straw, mushrooms, and organic fertiliser," Cảnh explained.

An Giang province's rice production area ranges from 600,000 - 620,000 ha per year, with an annual output of nearly 4 million tonne — VNA/VNS Photo

Shetty said that her visit helped her better understand low-emission rice farming practices. Việt Nam is a pioneer in low-emission rice farming, she said, adding that many people around the world are eager to visit the country to learn from this model.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trần Thanh Nam, despite fluctuations in global food prices and recent drops in rice prices, farmers involved in the one-million-hectare rice project remain financially secure because lower production costs have increased their profits. As a result, even when rice prices drop, farmers maintain stable incomes and peace of mind, thanks to partnerships with enterprises that ensure market access.

Recognising the project’s positive impact on farmers’ livelihoods, Nam noted a growing interest among farmers in adopting high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation.

To further support the project, the WB is helping Vietnam access the Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) and is preparing a technical and infrastructure support project for high-quality, low-emission rice production in the Mekong Delta, which will be financed through WB loans.

To accelerate the signing of agreements with TCAF and finalise project proposals, the WB has organised a working delegation to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and provinces involved in the one-million-hectare rice project from March 17 to March 25. — VNS