Early removal of policies for large-scale fields

(Baonghean) - Since the province issued Decision No. 02/2013/QD-UBND on a number of policies to support investment in building "large-scale fields", the whole province has implemented 50 models. The effectiveness of large-scale fields is clear, but due to limited funding and lack of attraction for businesses, agricultural products are still difficult to sell.

Current situation

In 2013, Nghia Dong commune (Tan Ky) received support from the State to build a large-scale corn field on an area of ​​35 hectares in Giang field along the alluvial plain of Con river. The support cost was 108 million VND, of which 50% of the seed price, 30% of the fertilizer price, along with training and guidance. However, it was only implemented in the first year, the following year the large-scale field was finished. Mr. Le Van Kim in hamlet 6B, Nghia Dong commune shared: “We find it very convenient to produce in large-scale fields, gathering 86 small-scale farming households to form a large corn growing area, creating conditions for applying new techniques and technologies. Specifically, my family grows 2 sao of corn, and is trained in technical processes for planting and caring for corn. We are supported with 300,000 VND/sao including the cost of fertilizers and pesticides. Because all are produced synchronously, the corn yield is quite high, averaging 3.5 quintals/sao (before participating in large-scale fields, it only reached 2 - 2.5 quintals/sao). However, from 2014 to now, farmers have not participated in large-scale fields to grow corn, the reason is that they have not continued to receive financial support for seeds, fertilizers, etc. The important thing is that in the process of building large-scale fields, we have not found a business to consume corn products, mainly people sell freely. and serve livestock farming".

Large model field in Dien My commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Chau Lan

Mr. Vo Duy Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghia Dong Commune, said: After the end of the large-scale field funding support period, people continued to grow corn on the large-scale fields, but each person did it on their own, not following the correct procedures, not agreeing on the same variety, reducing investment, leading to low corn productivity. The advantage in Nghia Dong is that the land along the Con River alluvial plain is quite large, but to effectively promote corn, it is necessary to find a business to stably purchase products for farmers, from which farmers can feel secure to invest in increasing corn productivity and quality.

Nghia Thinh Commune (Nghia Dan) has also received financial support from the State since 2014 to build a large-scale rice field, which has been quite effective, but there are still many difficulties. Mr. Vo Quang Nien, Chairman of Nghia Thinh Cooperative, said: The large-scale field has 254 farmer households participating with a scale of 30 hectares, at the Lang field in hamlets 5,6,7,8,9, using the three-line hybrid rice variety PHB71. Farmers are supported with 3.2 million VND/ha for seeds, fertilizers and are trained in planting and caring for the new rice variety. Thanks to the application of a synchronous technical process from seeds to fertilizers, rice productivity is high. In the spring crop of 2015 alone, the average yield was 70 quintals/ha, and in the summer crop it was 62 quintals/ha. The problem is that the district and commune have not yet found a business to consume the products for farmers.

Another difficulty in building large-scale model fields in Nghia Thinh is that the fields are not flat, the infrastructure, especially the irrigation system, does not meet the requirements of large-scale commodity production. Some households in the planning area lack labor, the level of farmers is uneven, officials and farmers are not familiar with directing large-scale commodity production, many new technical advances are unfamiliar to officials and farmers, so the direction work encounters many difficulties.

In the "rice granary" of Yen Thanh district, where over 25,000 hectares of rice are produced annually, in recent years, the province and district have invested in many large-scale field models, but the problem of output for products is still difficult. In the spring crop of 2015, Quang Thanh commune allocated 150 million VND from the budget to support local rice production to build a large-scale field with an area of ​​over 65 hectares. Mr. Phan Duc Tien, Vice Chairman of Quang Thanh Commune People's Committee, said: Producing large-scale fields with the same variety of Khai Phong, sown at the same time, so it is easy to take care of, the yield is high at 68 quintals/ha, while other fields only reach 60 - 62 quintals/ha, but people still have to consume the products themselves.

Regarding Phuc Thanh commune, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, added: Since 2012, when participating in the large-scale field, the commune leaders have been struggling to find a type of rice that is easy to consume. After a period of research and study, the commune decided to invest in the production of Thien Uu rice varieties (high-quality rice), the rice seed products are signed for consumption with the Central Seed Company. In the binding contract, farmers must comply with the rice seed production process to meet the quality and quantity according to the order. In 2016, Phuc Thanh commune mobilized people to build 100 hectares of large-scale field (without financial support from the State). All of the above areas are used to produce rice seeds, the output issue will be signed with the Central Seed Company. The advantage in Phuc Thanh is that the land has been converted, irrigation infrastructure has been invested, farmers are familiar with rice seed production.

Continue to find a solution

Large-scale field model is a new production trend in agricultural production today, clearly demonstrating the participation of 4 parties (State, scientists, businesses and farmers) in which businesses are identified as having an important role, deciding the consumption of products for farmers. In Nghe An, production according to large-scale fields has been implemented since 2013 until now. In order to promptly encourage and support businesses and people, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 68/2012/NQ - HDB dated December 13, 2012 (term XVI, session 3). On that basis, on January 15, 2013, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 02/2013/QD-UBND on a number of policies to support investment in building the "large-scale field" model in Nghe An province in the period of 2013 - 2015. This includes support for field improvement after completing land consolidation, support for costs of purchasing seeds, materials, and fertilizers, funding for technical training for farmers, and funding for technical staff to directly guide farmers in building the model.

Large model field in Nghia Thinh commune (Nghia Dan). Photo: Van Truong

Through the implementation of the large-scale field model, it has affirmed its sustainability, efficiency, reduced production costs, and increased economic efficiency by 10-15% compared to normal production of farmers. Regarding rice varieties, in the large-scale field model, high-quality rice varieties are mainly used such as: NA2 Materials, Nép N87, PHB1, BTE1, 27P31,... so the selling price is higher than other varieties. For example, AC5 rice of Vinh Hoa Science and Technology Company Limited is purchased at 8,000 - 9,000 VND/kg while normal rice is (5,000 - 5,500 VND/kg). NA2 Materials, DT 68 rice is purchased by the Agricultural Materials Corporation at a price 10-15% higher than the price of normal rice; N87 glutinous rice in Phuc Thanh is completely purchased by the Central Seed Company at a high price; Especially the 2014 Fall-Winter peanut crop is sold for 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg,...

Discussing the issue of removing difficulties for the large-scale field policy, the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: Regarding the large-scale field production policy, the Government and the province have paid great attention and directed its timely implementation. However, due to limited funding, it has not met the requirements and is not attractive to businesses,... On the other hand, the current difficulty is that the number of businesses participating in agricultural investment is still very modest. To remove difficulties, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is actively advising the Provincial People's Committee to review and issue more specific policies. On January 22, 2015, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 08/2015/QD-UBND promulgating regulations on a number of specific policies to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas in Nghe An province from 2015 to 2020 and is proposing to the Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to specify the policy in 62/2013/QD-TTg so that localities can implement it more easily.

The solution being considered by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is to promote investment, attract businesses to join hands in building new rural areas by linking up to build large fields, both as a midwife and support for farmers and at the same time ensuring the harmony of interests of the participating parties. Promote research and application of scientific and technological advances in production.

Van Truong