Japonica fragrant rice in Western Nghe An is in high demand.

(Baonghean.vn) - Since 2010, Que Phong district has cooperated with the Vietnam Agricultural Genetics Institute to test-plant the Japonica rice variety. This year, the rice yield is high, estimated at 6 tons/ha.The output is about 1,500 tons and all the rice produced is consumed.

Japonica rice variety workshop in Que Phong. Photo: Ngoc Tang.

In 2015-2016, the district continued to introduce rice varieties into production in 4 communes: Tri Le, Muong Noc, Chau Kim and Tien Phong with a total area of ​​250 hectares, assigning specific responsibilities to each unit in care and protection, thanks to which the spring crop yield was very high. The estimated yield reached 6 tons/ha, the output reached about 1,500 tons.

In addition to the quality of the rice, it does not break when cooked and does not dry out when cooled. The commercial price is twice as high as that of other purebred and high-yielding local rice varieties. After harvesting, traders also buy it right after threshing it in the field at a price quite high compared to local purebred rice.

Ms. Lo Thi Hien, Na Phay village, Muong Noc commune happily shared: "If other pure hybrid rice varieties are only sold for 6,000 VND/kg, Japonica rice is sold for 9,000 - 10,000 VND/kg."

Not only Ms. Hien, many households in Muong Noc, Tri Le, Chau Kim and Tien Phong communes have also switched to growing Japonica rice, bringing the total area of ​​this rice variety to 250 hectares in the spring crop of 2016.

When planting new rice varieties in the early stages, farmers are also supported with 50% of the price of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to develop production in the first years and gradually reduced in the following years.

On the way to build the Japonica fragrant rice brand into a regional product, a local specialty, the People's Committee of Que Phong district has approved the project to produce high-quality specialty rice from production to consumption. At the same time, this product has participated in trade promotion at fairs organized by the Department of Industry and Trade, which has been highly appreciated by customers. Currently, many companies and businesses in Hanoi and Vinh City are also placing orders.

Ms. Vi Ngoc Be, Director of Que Phong Agricultural Service Production and Trading Cooperative, said: "Our cooperative has just started operating. We have put Japonica rice into our business list and it sold out when the season came, even though the price was one and a half times higher than other types of rice. The current price is about 10-11,000 VND/kg."

Japonica rice harvest in Que Phong. Photo: Tran Quoc Thanh

Mr. Le Van Quang, Head of the Plant Protection Station of Que Phong district, said: "The 2016 spring Japonica rice crop had a good harvest, and people are very excited. We are also proposing that the district continue to have a mechanism to support farmers with seed prices to continue producing this specialty fragrant rice."

In the coming time, if Japonica rice variety is put into mass production in all 13 communes of Que Phong district, it will shorten the yield gap between farming households, rice fields, and production areas, increase the average yield in the whole region, create a large volume of concentrated agricultural products, increase the quality of rice, create a competitive advantage in production and lay the foundation for safe rice production, contributing to building the local fragrant rice brand.

Que Phong is implementing the construction of a "Model field of japonica rice with special aromatic quality" and planning the rice production area in a sustainable direction.

Van Thanh

Que Phong Radio and Television Station