Nghe An: Area of ​​SRI rice cultivation reaches over 10,000 hectares.

Over the five years from 2013 to 2017, the Nghe An Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection developed 90 improved SRI (System of Rice Intensification) rice cultivation models, ranging in size from 1 to 20 hectares per model, and subsequently implemented them on a larger scale. Local authorities also established mechanisms and policies to annually support funding for dozens of large-scale SRI application models, each covering 10-20 hectares.

Farmers in Yen Thanh district sow rice seedlings for the 2018 spring crop. Photo: Phu Huong

Besides reducing nitrogen fertilizer by an average of 10-15%, seed quantity by 40-50%, and pesticide application by 1-2 times, resulting in a profit of 2.7-3 million VND/ha compared to traditional farming methods, SRI also contributes to improving rice intensive farming techniques for farmers.

Farmers head to the fields to sow and plant rice for the spring crop. Photo: Phu Huong

In the spring of 2018, the Provincial Plant Protection Sub-Department continued to develop 15 small-scale SRI models (1 hectare/model) and 3 large-scale models (5 hectares/model).

In addition, in most key rice-growing districts and some mountainous districts such as Tan Ky and Con Cuong, support mechanisms and project programs have been implemented to expand the area of ​​improved SRI (System of Rice Intensification) rice production throughout the province to approximately 10,000 - 11,000 hectares in the spring crop season.

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