Thai rice farmer

Tra Vinh (VNS/VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh plans to switch to high-value crops on more low-yield rice fields and use advanced farming techniques to improve farmers’ incomes in the next five years. Of 8,108ha on its radar, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said 4,258ha would see a complete switch to short-term crops, 2,487ha would be used for perennial trees and the remaining 1,363ha would have rice and aquatic species. Pham Minh Truyen, director of the department, said to ensure an efficient switch the department in cooperation with localities would step up advocacy for the programme and related incentives. It encourages farmers to join cooperative groups and cooperatives to improve their efficiency and link up with companies to secure outlets, he said. The province would focus on research and creating new varieties of crops with high yields and quality that can adapt to climate change and are resistant to diseases, he said. It would … [Read more...] about Tra Vinh to grow high-value crops on low-yield rice fields

HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Local authorities in the Mekong Delta have begun taking measures to cope with the effects of saltwater intrusion and drought in the upcoming 2020-2021 dry season. In recent years, the Mekong Delta - the country’s largest rice, fruit and seafood producer - has faced severe saltwater intrusion from sea via river mouths during the dry season. Local authorities in Can Tho City and the delta's 12 provinces, have warned farmers to sow rice and other crops in the dry season under certain schedules and in areas that can secure irrigation water.   The provinces in coastal areas have upgraded irrigation systems to protect crops and aquaculture. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Sac Trang province has warned farmers to sow the 2020-21 winter-spring rice crop one month earlier than normal to mitigate the impact of saltwater intrusion and drought. Huynh Ngoc Nha, deputy … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta takes preventive measures against saline intrusion

Hanoi (VNA) - The PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser Co., Ltd. (PVCFC)’s total urea output reached the milestone 7 millionth tonne on September 13 after almost ten years of operations. A subsidiary of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and located in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, PVCFC has maintained capacity at 110 percent over recent years to bring high-quality fertiliser to the market and contribute to enhancing national food security. The factory has produced some 870,000 tonnes of urea each year, meeting more than 40 percent of demand around the country and holding a market share of approximately 60 percent in the Mekong Delta - Vietnam’s rice bowl. Its products have been exported to a number of foreign countries, including Cambodia. With its products, farmers can save up to 30 percent on fertiliser costs while increasing yields by 5-10 percent. Danish catalysis company Haldor Topsoe named PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser among the factories with the … [Read more...] about Ca Mau fertiliser plant’s urea output hits 7 million tonnes after ten years

Dak Nong (VNS/VNA) - A few years ago hundreds of people used to descend on coffee plantations in the Central Highlands region to work as coffee pickers during the harvest season when coffee prices were high. However, now prices have fallen, there is less interest in the work. According to many plantation owners in Dak Nong province, coffee picking used to provide a stable income for thousands of labourers. Over the past three-four years, more and more coffee plantations had been converted to other crops, leaving the work less attractive, Dan Tri online newspaper reported. Now many coffee farmers struggle to find workers for the harvest. Nguyen Van Dung, the owner of a coffee plantation in in Dak Dro commune, Krong No district, said his family began harvesting coffee in mid-November this year. This year, labour costs were higher than last year, but it was still difficult to find workers due to the low coffee … [Read more...] about Central Highlands faces labour shortages on coffee plantations

Tra Vinh (VNA) – The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tra Vinh has taken a number of measures to prevent droughts, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion in the upcoming dry season to minimise possible damage caused by them. Tra Vinh is one of the delta provinces hardest hit by saltwater intrusion between December and April, a phenomenon that has caused severe damage in recent years. The delta is forecast to face a water shortage, and localities in Tra Vinh are speeding up construction of irrigation works, dredging of canals and repairs to degraded irrigation works to store freshwater. In areas where irrigation systems are not extensive, local authorities are encouraging people to build embankments and temporary dams. They have made plans for careful use of water. The provincial People’s Committee has ordered the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to closely monitor saltwater intrusion and inform the public so that people could proactively take … [Read more...] about Tra Vinh takes measures to deal with drought, saltwater intrusion