Nghe An: SRI rice area reaches over 10,000 hectares

In the 5 years from 2013 to 2017, Nghe An Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has built 90 improved SRI rice intensive models with a scale of 01 - 20 ha/model to direct the widespread replication. Localities also have mechanisms and policies to annually support funding for the implementation of dozens of SRI application models on a large scale with a scale of 10 - 20 ha/model.

Yen Thanh farmers sow rice in the spring crop of 2018. Photo: Phu Huong

In addition to reducing the average amount of nitrogen by 10 - 15%, the amount of seeds by 40 - 50%, 1-2 sprayings of pesticides, and the profit compared to conventional farming of 2.7 - 3 million VND/ha, SRI also contributes to improving the level of rice cultivation for farmers.

Farmers go to the fields to sow spring rice. Photo: Phu Huong

In the spring crop of 2018, the Provincial Plant Protection Department continued to build 15 small-scale SRI models (scale of 01 ha/model) and 3 large-scale models (05 ha/model).

In addition, in most key rice-growing districts and some mountainous districts such as Tan Ky and Con Cuong, there have been support mechanisms and project programs to expand the area of ​​intensive rice production using improved SRI in the whole province to about 10,000 - 11,000 hectares in spring crop production.

SRI is an ecological and efficient method of rice cultivation, increasing productivity while reducing input costs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water. The basic principles/techniques of this method include: young seedlings, single-seedling planting, sparse planting, water management, weeding and sludge aeration, and organic fertilization.