Finding a market for "low-emission" rice

Can Tho is one of the localities participating in the pilot program for the 1 Million Hectares of Low-Emission High-Quality Rice project, which is part of the Mekong Delta’s Green Growth initiative. After harvesting 50 hectares of the first crop in July at Thuan Tien Cooperative in Vinh Thanh District, experts have noted positive outcomes from the trial. However, the low-emission rice produced is still sitting in storage, awaiting market negotiations by businesses.

Approximately 35 tons of OM5451 rice grown by farmers involved in the pilot project of Low-Emission High-Quality Rice, has been purchased by Hoàng Minh Nhật Company. The rice, however, remains in the firm’s warehouse as negotiations continue to introduce it to the conventional rice market.

Can Tho is one of the first five localities selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement this pilot project. The initiative has yielded promising results in terms of reduced emissions, helping farmers cut input costs while maintaining high productivity. However, the market for low-emission rice remains limited.

Once markets fully adopt low-emission rice standards, the project, along with its established products and cohesive brand promotion, will open new opportunities, especially in more demanding markets.

Experts agree that the initial focus should be on producing low-emission rice in line with global trends, before advancing to the next stage of producing both high-quality rice and low-emission rice products./.