The white sand area of Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces is considered the harshest place in Vietnam. However, it is aiming for sustainable organic agriculture, in which rice is the leading and gradually opening opportunities to take over the new consumption market with a variety known as the top rice in the world.
“Sweet fruit” on the harsh land
In the eyes of international friends, rice is a typical Vietnamese product. With the studiousness, Vietnamese people continuously work for more delicious and nutritious rice associated with protecting the environment. Organic rice growing models are becoming sustainable agricultural trends.
Organic rice cultivation is the preferred choice of Quang Binh and Quang Tri – the country’s narrowest and harshest strip of land. Finding an effective form of cultivation is a matter that attracts much attention when the two localities have such harsh natural conditions.
Quang Tri organic rice products are available in the domestic supermarket system and heading to export. (Photo: Internet)
Mr. Doan Ngoc Tho – Chairman of Ba Don Town People’s Committee (Quang Binh) – shared that Ba Don is the pioneer in implementing the action program on organic agriculture associated with the National Target Program on building new rural areas between 2020 and 2025. In particular, it focuses on increasing productivity, ensuring food safety, and meeting market need associated with environmental protection.
“The town has signed with Song Gianh Joint Stock Company to implement the value chain of rice products in some communes and wards. Besides, in 2022, the town will test the ST25 variety on an area of 28 ha in Quang Tien commune. Currently, Song Gianh Company is guiding the cultivation and will buy the products with the desire to improve productivity, quality, efficiency in the direction of sustainability, forming production chains associated with the consumption of clean and organic agricultural products” Mr. Tho shared.
In Quang Tri – “the land of fire”, the rice cultivation process according to organic technology initially confirmed the efficiency of the economy as well as the environment. The application of organic farming in clean agricultural production has resulted in an average rice yield of over 6 tonnes/ha, with a much higher average income than traditional farming in the past.
According to researchers, the harsh climate and special soil conditions in Quang Tri have created rice grains with superior flavor and nutritional content. These advantages combined with the processing method according to organic standards have retained valuable nutrients in bran and rice.
Formation of standard cultivation areas
As a pioneer in organic rice production, Quang Tri Organic Agricultural Products Joint Stock Company (QTOrganic) has achieved many successes in conquering domestic and international markets. Quang Tri organic rice is cultivated by Japan’s leading organic technology process.
The best rice grains in the world are grown in Quang Binh and Quang Tri – the harsh land of Vietnam. (Photo: Internet)
QTOrganic has improved the soil on fields for four consecutive years with special microbial yeast strains researched by Scientist Tran Ngoc Nam. Especially, the triangular transplanting method helps the rice plants absorb all the light from many sides. Therefore, the photosynthetic capacity of rice plants is improved, creating rice grains with superior nutrient content compared to the normal transplanting method in Vietnam and in the world.
One year to pursue organic rice cultivation, QTOrganic has signed with 13 cooperatives and cooperative groups in six districts and cities in Quang Tri. From those first steps, up to now, Quang Tri organic rice products have appeared in domestic supermarkets. QTOrganic also promoted the product at the 16th ASEAN-China Trade Fair (CAEXPO 2019) in Nanning City with the main product being Quang Tri organic rice.
“Up to now, Quang Tri organic rice has been present in more than 100 distributors, supermarkets, and high-end food stores across the country. This is considered to be a significant growth step, which is the motivation for Quang Tri organic rice to conquer other markets in the world.” Ms. Pham Thi Diem Le – Director of QTOrganic shared.
According to Mr. Truong An Ninh – Secretary of Ba Don town (Quang Binh), in the future, Ba Don town will build standard organic farming areas for some crops and animals, especially rice products. At the same time, the town will upgrade agricultural production establishments which are granted VietGAP certificates, and food safety standards toward organic agriculture. The purpose is by 2025, the value of organic products will be 1.5-1.7 times higher than non-organic. In particular, the percentage of new and high-quality rice varieties reaches 65-70%/year.