Farmers have the right to choose rice varieties.

(Baonghean)- To increase producers' income, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 62/2013-TTg on policies to encourage cooperation and production linkages associated with consumption and processing of agricultural products, and the construction of large-scale fields (CDL). This is a correct and practical policy for commodity production. If you want to produce commodities, you must produce on a large scale. If you want products to be consumed by businesses that cooperate to process them, you must have good quality products. If you want good quality products, you must have good varieties that are recognized by consumers.

But the current issue of variety structure seems to be quite complicated. The policy on what variety structure in each production season from the Central to the provincial level is only an orientation, not an imposition on planting this or that variety. What rice variety structure in each production season must be proposed from the requirements of the producers through discussion meetings to gather what rice variety is most suitable for that locality.

Because no one understands better than farmers the characteristics, climate, and terrain of each field where they are currently growing rice. As a farmer, who doesn't want to grow rice varieties with high yield, good quality rice, and sell for a good price. But unfortunately, until now, there are still districts where, before each crop season, the District People's Committee has a document assigning specific planting targets for each rice variety to each commune. Even when people grow their own rice varieties according to their preferences, they are prohibited, and many places even use "strong" measures to prevent it. This way of doing things is subjective, imposing, undemocratic, unrealistic, unscientific, and does not rule out the possibility of group interests in the "relationship" of buying and selling and consuming rice seeds of some seed trading companies. This way of doing things has limited the autonomy of farmers in choosing crops on their own land - where only they know what to plant and what to raise to bring about efficiency.

In fact, most farmers in most production facilities do not want to plant hybrid rice varieties, even though they know that these varieties have high yields but produce rice that is not tasty, has a low selling price and is very difficult to sell. But they still have to do it because they are following instructions!

To have an advanced variety structure that achieves good productivity and rice quality, bringing high added value in the next production seasons, we recommend:

- Before each production season, the structure of the variety must be discussed and opinions from the producers must be suggested to plant that rice variety for the most benefit. Especially, in areas with food surplus, they will focus on planting high-quality commercial rice varieties to increase income. Districts, cities and towns before each production season need to have seminars with the participation of representatives of some communes, some qualified and experienced science and technology officers in the district and the province are invited to participate to contribute opinions on what the main structure of the variety should be to bring the highest economic value in the production season.

- Regarding the mechanism, policies need to be supplemented and adjusted to suit the process of socio-economic development and science and technology. We completely agree with the opinion of Mr. Ho Ngoc Sy - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on proposing to the Provincial People's Committee to stop subsidizing hybrid rice varieties and switch to subsidizing high-quality pure rice varieties to encourage the production of high-quality commercial rice associated with the CĐL model.

As science and technology develop, the structure of plant varieties in general and rice in particular is always an important and dynamic measure suitable for research goals and social needs. Therefore, the existence of a new variety is limited in time and will be replaced by another more advanced new variety.

Doan Tri Tue