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 linkages in agricultural production, consumption, and processing, and the development of large-scale farming areas. This is a correct and practical policy for commodity production. To produce commodities, production must be on a large scale; to have products that are consumed and processed by linked businesses, the products must be of good quality; and to have good quality products, the seeds must be good and recognized by consumers.
However, the current issue of crop structure seems quite complex. The policy on crop structure for each production season, from the central government to the provincial level, is only a guideline, not an imposition of planting specific varieties. The choice of rice varieties for each production season should be based on the needs of the producers, proposed through meetings and discussions to determine which rice varieties are most suitable for that locality.
No one understands the characteristics and climatic features, as well as the elevation of each rice field they cultivate, better than the farmers themselves. Every farmer wants to plant high-yielding rice varieties that produce delicious, high-quality rice at a good price. Unfortunately, even now, some districts still issue specific planting quotas for each rice variety to each commune before each planting season. Even when farmers choose their own preferred rice varieties, they are often prohibited, and in many places, strong measures are used to stop them. This approach is subjective, coercive, undemocratic, impractical, lacks scientific basis, and may even be driven by vested interests within the "relationships" of certain seed companies involved in the buying and selling of rice seeds. This method restricts the autonomy of farmers in choosing crops for their own land – a land where only they know what crops to grow and what livestock to raise for optimal results.
In reality, most farmers in most production areas are reluctant to plant hybrid rice varieties, even though they know that these varieties have high yields, but the rice they produce tastes bad, sells at a low price, and is difficult to sell. However, they still have to do it because they are following instructions!
To develop an advanced crop structure that achieves high yield, good rice quality, and high added value in future production seasons, we propose:
- Before each planting season, the crop structure must be discussed and opinions gathered from farmers to propose the most profitable rice varieties for cultivation. Especially in areas with food surpluses, farmers will focus on planting high-quality commercial rice varieties to increase their income. Before each planting season, districts, cities, and towns should hold workshops with the participation of representatives from several communes, and qualified and experienced scientific and technical staff from the district and province should be invited to contribute ideas on which crop structure should be prioritized to maximize economic value during the planting season.
- Regarding mechanisms and policies, there is a need for supplementation and adjustment to suit the socio-economic and scientific and technological development process. We completely agree with Mr. Ho Ngoc Sy - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - on proposing to the Provincial People's Committee to abolish subsidies for hybrid rice varieties and instead subsidize high-quality purebred rice varieties to encourage the production of high-quality commercial rice associated with the large-scale rice farming model.
As science and technology continue to develop, the structure of crop varieties in general, and rice varieties in particular, is always an important and dynamic measure that aligns with research objectives and societal needs. Therefore, the existence of a newly developed variety has a certain time limit, and other, more advanced varieties will eventually replace it.
Doan Tri Tue