Kien Giang province increases rice output

A large-scale rice field of the Kenh 4A co-operative in Kien Giang province (Photo: VNA)

Kien Giang (VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, the country’s largest rice producer, is expected to produce 4.3 million tonnes of paddy  this year, up more than 35,200 tonnes against last year, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For the ongoing summer – autumn crop, the province has planted more than 290,000 ha of rice, up about 9,000 ha compared to the province’s target. The rate of certified rice seeds accounts for more than 77 percent of the crop’s total area. 

The ongoing harvest is expected to end in late September, with an additional 1.5 million tonnes of paddy.

Do Minh Nhut, deputy director of the department, said the yield had met the province’s target, but inclement weather conditions and disease had affected output.

Heavy rains and whirlwinds flattened more than 17,470 ha of rice which had nearly ripened, mostly in Tan Hiep and Giong Rieng districts.

Disease from brown plant hoppers during prolonged hot weather affected more than 57,230 ha of rice. 

The rate of high quality rice varieties accounts for 72 percent of the crop’s total area, according to the department. 

The province has developed 17 large-scale rice fields on a total of 3,215 ha.

Many companies are working with farmers to implement large-scale rice fields under the Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP).

The province’s Cooperative Alliance is working with companies to produce organic rice. In July, the alliance signed an agreement with the Long An Organic Agriculture Company Limited to implement an organic rice production chain.

Under the agreement, the company will supply material inputs and guarantee outlets for co-operatives to plant rice on 20,000 ha. The company will also provide techniques for growing organic rice to cooperative members.

The province has about 92,000 ha of rice fields in which rice is grown in the rainy season and shrimp are bred in the dry season, according to the department. Few chemicals are used for the rice and shrimp breeding models./.