The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang expects to produce a record-high amount of paddy this year, with an estimated 4.2 million tonnes, up nearly 293,000 tonnes against last year.
This is the second consecutive year that the province has led the country in rice production, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The output rose after farmers west of the Hau River shifted from growing vegetables and fruit to rice. Shrimp farmers in Long Xuyen Quadrilateral also began cultivating rice as well.
In addition, rainy weather helped provide more irrigation water. Silt had also built up from last year's flood season, helping farmers raise bumper harvests.
Advanced farming techniques and the use of disease-resistant rice as well contributed to the higher rice yield.
This year, the province has planted a total of 700,000 ha of rice with an average yield of six tonnes per hectare.
Of the crops, the winter-spring and summer-autumn crops are the two main crops, accounting for more than 85 percent of the province's total rice output.
For the winter-spring crop in the 2012-13 period, the province will plant 295,000 ha of short-term rice varieties that mature in less than 100 days and have a high yield and quality.
Farmers in the province have been encouraged to plant at least 15-20 percent of fragrant rice.-VNA
This is the second consecutive year that the province has led the country in rice production, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The output rose after farmers west of the Hau River shifted from growing vegetables and fruit to rice. Shrimp farmers in Long Xuyen Quadrilateral also began cultivating rice as well.
In addition, rainy weather helped provide more irrigation water. Silt had also built up from last year's flood season, helping farmers raise bumper harvests.
Advanced farming techniques and the use of disease-resistant rice as well contributed to the higher rice yield.
This year, the province has planted a total of 700,000 ha of rice with an average yield of six tonnes per hectare.
Of the crops, the winter-spring and summer-autumn crops are the two main crops, accounting for more than 85 percent of the province's total rice output.
For the winter-spring crop in the 2012-13 period, the province will plant 295,000 ha of short-term rice varieties that mature in less than 100 days and have a high yield and quality.
Farmers in the province have been encouraged to plant at least 15-20 percent of fragrant rice.-VNA
