VIETNAM’S ONE-MILLION-HECTARE RICE PLAN REACHES JUST 3% OF 2026 TARGET

A combine harvester operates in a rice field in the Mekong Delta - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH

CAN THO – Vietnam’s plan to develop one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice has reached just over 3% of its 2026 target, far below expectations.

The program aims to roll out nearly 470,000 hectares this year. However, only 14,766 hectares have been implemented so far, including 11,430 hectares in the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, according to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The figures were presented at a conference on crop production held on May 6 in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

To meet the 2026 target of 468,427 hectares, an additional 453,600 hectares must be deployed in the remaining months of the year.

Among localities, An Giang Province has recorded the largest implementation area, at more than 3,160 hectares, while Tay Ninh Province has the smallest, at 381 hectares.

Authorities said progress has been hindered by several factors. Some farmers remain hesitant to adopt new techniques, such as reducing seed and fertilizer use. Production organization remains unclear in some areas, while farming is still small-scale and irrigation infrastructure is not fully synchronized.

Credit policies linked to the program have also yet to attract strong participation from businesses and farmers.

Despite the slow rollout, pilot models have shown positive results. Seed use has fallen by 30-50% compared to traditional farming, while nitrogen fertilizer use has dropped by about 30%. The number of pesticide applications has been reduced by two to three times, and all models have adopted alternate wetting and drying irrigation methods.

Economic returns have improved. In Dong Thap, farmers participating in the model reported profits of nearly VND29.5 million per hectare, about VND5.3 million higher than traditional practices.

The model has also delivered environmental benefits, cutting emissions by an average of three to four tons of CO2 equivalent per hectare.

According to the department, over 15,530 hectares have been registered to join the World Bank’s Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF), with the participation of 9,956 households.

Source: The Saigon Times