The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh reaped a record high rice output with over 1.3 million tonnes this year, up 51,500 tonnes against the previous year. Of the figure, nearly 900,000 tonnes were high quality rice.

The province has nearly 236,000ha of rice fields with an average yield of 5.62 tonnes per ha, a year on year increase of 0.21 tonnes.

Improving irrigation systems and applying advanced technology and various models into cultivation are among measures taken by local authority to increase the output, said Kim Xe, Head of the Sub-department of Cultivation and Plant Protection under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The irrigation systems in Zone C Lang The (West Highway 53) and Long Hoa – Hoa Minh Isle of Chau Thanh district have been built up whilst 492 canals with a total length of 410 km were dredged this year.

Besides, the province has been implementing production models that bring greater benefits for farmers, notably “3 Down, 3 Up” (3 Down: seeds, fertilizers and pesticides; 3 Up: productivity, quality and economic efficiency), and “1 Must, 5 Down” (1 Must: must use of certified rice seeds; 5 Down: decreases in sowed seeds, crop protection chemicals, nitrogenous fertilizer, water use and post-harvest losses).

Some 57 training courses on how to apply those models as well as techniques for System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and to produce VietGap standard rice were also organised, benefiting around 1,700 local farmers.

Meanwhile, 28 large-scale paddy fields covering a total area of 5,000ha were established by 5,000 farmer households in Cang Long, Chau Thanh, Tieu Can, Tra Cu, Cau Ngang and Cau Ke districts.

The province targets to raise an average rice yield of 5.7 tonnes per ha for a total output of around 1.3 million tonnes in 2015.-VNA