The golden time to reduce the cost of rice production in the Mekong Delta [Part 4]: Why can't many cost reduction processes be implemented?

"Disturbed" the process

In the context of high fertilizer prices, lowering the cost of rice production is a headache not only for farmers but also for the agricultural industry. In the past few years, the agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta has had many recipes to guide farmers on how to grow rice more profitable, and how to make the production cost per kilogram of rice no longer high. Or programs to introduce slow soluble nitrogen fertilizers for farmers to experiment with in the hope of helping rice plants have time to absorb nutrients, etc.

In general, the programs with many smart ways of cultivating rice, the content of the instructions is very specific, but it is difficult for farmers to apply, the results are only relative when only stopping at trial models. experimental, not yet widely deployed.

According to Dr. Tran Ngoc Thach, director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, the Mekong Delta is currently in a state of "trouble" in the process of reducing rice production costs. Enterprises have their own processes, the VnSAT project has its own processes, and even the rice institute has just implemented the process for a number of units, each process has its own strengths and weaknesses.

From Mr. Thach's point of view, the program of 3 decreases 3 increases (3G3T) or 1 must 5 decreases (1P5G) are just recommendations, based on which farmers will be aware of the need to reduce sowing seeds and reduce fertilizers. fertilizers, pesticides, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “It is very difficult to build a general formula for the Mekong Delta region. Saline areas, alum areas, fresh areas, 3 crops, 2 crops... each area will have different farming conditions. Moreover, with the areas of raw materials for export, there are also different requirements for pesticide residues," said Mr. Thach.

Besides, Prof. Vo Tong Xuan, Rector of Southern Can Tho University, pointed out the reason why the cost reduction process takes time, although it has been widely deployed by localities, but has not brought much effect because "Mrs. Farmers have long been used to following customs, so if they see results, they will do it. If you want farmers to listen and act in other ways, forcing the farmer who has successfully done it himself to say, calculate the price of a kilogram of rice to actually decrease, then farmers can follow that method.” Prof. Vo Tong Xuan analyzed.

It can be seen that the biggest purpose of reducing production costs is to bring the most profit to farmers and the furthest goal is to bring agricultural production back to the right trajectory, sustainable farming. .

Currently, with the support from the agricultural industry, businesses, experts and scientists have brought science, technology, mechanization, and smart farming solutions closer to farmers. However, whether the profit is high or not, the income is good or not, above all, it is the farmers who are the masters, seize the opportunities, boldly change new ways of doing things, thereby creating new businesses. economic value to itself.

3 major disadvantages to overcome

In-depth analysis of the ecology of rice, Prof. Vo Tong Xuan pointed out, rice plants need 16 nutrients to grow, in which nitrogen (the main component of nitrogen fertilizer, also known as urea) is the substance absorbed by rice plants. consume the most. The nitrogen content in the air accounts for 78%, but plants cannot absorb it, forced to suck it up from the soil, and also absorb many other nutrients.

"Farmers don't understand that can't see that the other substances are also needed, if only urea is applied to rice plants, gradually the remaining nutrients will be depleted, making the soil degraded, rice cultivation becomes less efficient. fruit. Currently, farmers are more experienced, in applying more DAP fertilizer (the type of fertilizer with urea and phosphorus components). This practice accidentally kills the necessary microorganisms for plants, increasing production costs, "said Professor Vo Tong Xuan.

According to Professor Vo Tong Xuan, many studies by scientists in advanced countries around the world have shown that probiotics are mixed with organic substances to produce microbial organic fertilizers. fertilizer into the soil, contributing to the return of microorganisms to the soil.

"Dissecting" the problem of why Mekong Delta farmers grow rice at a very high price, Prof. Vo Tong Xuan gave 3 major disadvantages.

Starting from seeds, farmers who want a high yield will choose to buy certified rice varieties, but if they use the seeds left behind in the previous season, the yield will not be achieved.

Next is the amount of seed sown with a density of 200 kg/ha. While the agricultural industry's recommendation is to reduce the amount of seeds. Because, in many experimental models in farmers' fields as well as in experimental centers, sowing from 60 kg/ha, the yield is still equivalent to sowing 200 kg/ha.

Along with rice plants will lack nutrients such as phosphorus, farmers have the habit of applying a lot of urea and DAP fertilizers to make rice grow well, making rice plants not have enough nutrients to grow. Farmers both lose money and increase climate change. Due to improper fertilization, the soil lacks microorganisms, and rice plants cannot absorb the necessary microorganisms.

To overcome the above 3 disadvantages, Prof. Vo Tong Xuan has come up with a typical cost reduction model that has been successfully implemented in Truong Xuan commune, Thap Muoi district, Dong Thap province. The highlight of the model is to reduce the amount of seeds to 80-100 kg/ha; only use 1/3 of the amount of urea used in the traditional way, recommended from 30-40 kg/ha, and at the same time, add phosphorus, potassium, and microbial organic fertilizers.

Professor especially emphasized all kinds of fertilizers are evenly applied to the soil, shaft, made of the field a day before sowing. “At first, farmers didn't believe it was a way to reduce costs because they thought, I wouldn't be foolish to fertilize when there was no rice, but after doing this, farmers will see, doing that the rice grows very quickly. and healthy. That is, 100% of the fertilizer is absorbed by the rice plant. Since then, applying less nitrogen fertilizer (urea fertilizer) in the soil, applying more organic microorganisms, rice is easy to absorb, fewer pests, less fertilizer, seeds and pesticides, "Professor Vo Tong Xuan information.

From the above model, when recalculating the production cost per kilogram of rice in Thap Muoi district, it has been reduced to only 2,500 - 2,800 VND. During the period of high fertilizer production, farmers should not waste fertilizer, changing fertilizer application method, amount of fertilizer, or type of fertilizer. The professor is sure that if farmers are determined to do this, they can both save money and make more profits. Solving many problems, significantly increasing profits, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to integrate with the whole country to fulfill Vietnam's commitments to the world on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

According to the recommendations of the crop industry, in rice cultivation techniques, farmers should note some of the following information:

Focus on plowing, drying the soil, improving the ground, cleaning the fields and keeping the interval between the two crops at least 3 weeks.

Sowing density (volume of rice seeds used/ha): seed quantity from 80-100 kg/ha; sowing or by equipment sowing by machine, sowing tools.

Increasing the application of technical advances to production, the application rate and economic efficiency of using certified rice varieties, plowing, applying 1P5G, mechanization in rice harvesting, and straw recovery Reuse.