High-quality rice variety VD 20 is grown for exports in Tiền Giang Province’s Gò Công Tây District. – VNA/VNS Photo Minh Trí

TIỀN GIANG – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tiền Giang will spend more than VNĐ34.5 billion (US$1.5 million) to expand high-tech rice growing areas to 4,000ha this year as part of an expansion plan to 2025.

Under the plan, which began last year, high-tech rice growing areas are located mostly in the major agricultural districts Cái Bè, Cai Lậy, Gò Công Tây and Gò Công Đông.

These areas grow high-quality rice varieties like Nàng Hoa 9, Đài Thơm 8, OM 4900, OM 5451 and ST 24.

The department has organised 200 training courses to provide advanced rice growing techniques to 6,000 farmers.

It has also established two high-tech rice growing processes that both grow rice under good agricultural practices (GAP) and use machines for cultivation.  

Participating farmers are instructed to use advanced techniques known as “three reductions and three increases” and "one must and five reductions”.

The "one must and five reductions" technique uses certified seeds and reduces the number of seedlings, plant protection chemicals, nitrogenous fertilisers, irrigation, and post-harvest losses.

Farmers sow 100 kilogrammes of seeds per hectare and use certified seeds. They are also given guidance on how to sow rice under certain schedules to avoid damage from the brown plant hopper, which is the main rice pest and transmits disease.

Last year, the province spent more than VNĐ10.3 billion ($446,000) to implement the expansion project.

The money was used to buy machines and other items for agriculture co-operatives, organise rice-model demonstrations and training courses for farmers, and provide financial support for farmers to buy seeds and material inputs.

Forty per cent of the cost of seeds and material inputs for farmers was paid by the project.

Last year, the province organised rice-model demonstrations on a total area of more than 40ha in the districts Cái Bè, Cai Lậy, Gò Công Đông and Gò Công Tây. 

Rice planted under rice-model demonstrations had an average yield of 6.25 tonnes per hectare, up 200kg compared to normal fields. The production cost was VNĐ3,100 a kilo, down VNĐ295 a kilo compared to normal fields.

The profit from rice planted under rice-model demonstrations was VNĐ20 million ($860) per hectare a crop, up VNĐ4 million ($170) compared to normal fields.

Rice planted under this project is guaranteed outlets by rice companies. – VNS