The Mekong Delta, also known as the "Nine Dragon River Delta," stands as one of Southeast Asia's largest and most fertile river deltas. It serves as a prominent region for food production, agricultural exports, and boasts the title of Vietnam's largest tropical fruit cultivation area, encompassing a natural expanse of 4,092.2 thousand hectares. Of this, 2,575.2 thousand hectares are dedicated to agricultural production, constituting 62.9% of the region's total natural land area.
Most of the delta's land area is enriched annually by alluvial deposits, rendering the soil incredibly fertile. Notably, the fertile alluvial strip along the Tien and Hau rivers, coupled with an intricate network of tributaries, channels, and canals, provides an advantageous water supply system for rice cultivation. Leveraging these natural advantages, the Mekong Delta focuses on rice production, solidifying its status as the nation's foremost rice granary.
The historical land of Ba Xuyen (now, Soc Trang Province) was renowned as the largest rice granary in the Southern Region. Alongside the acclaim of the "Bai Xau Rice" brand, the Soc Trang region was also home to prominent rice export entrepreneurs like Huynh Yen Truyen, who held the leading position in rice exports within the Southern Region provinces.
Leveraging its Advantage: The Mekong Delta's Reign as Vietnam's Top Rice Granary.
The Mekong Delta, often referred to as the "Rice Bowl" of Vietnam, has continually capitalized on its unique advantages to maintain its position as the country's leading rice-producing region. Its rice cultivation area consistently ranks at the forefront, representing approximately 52% of the nation's total rice cultivation area. The pivotal contributions to rice output within the region come from three key provinces: Kien Giang, An Giang, and Dong Thap. The combined rice production from these provinces accounts for nearly 50% of the Mekong Delta's total rice yield.
Among the multiple rice crops cultivated, the winter-spring crop stands out with the highest production, contributing approximately 44% to the annual rice output. The success of the winter-spring crop significantly influences the overall triumph of rice production in the region. In the year 2021, the Mekong Delta achieved an impressive output of 10.94 million tons for the winter-spring crop, marking a growth of 365.5 thousand tons compared to the previous year. This output constituted 53.2% of the nation's total winter-spring rice production.
The consistent achievement of high yields in the Mekong Delta's winter-spring rice crop underscores its prowess as the premier rice granary of Vietnam. The region's strategic cultivation planning and dedication to maximizing its potential have positioned it as an invaluable asset to the nation's agricultural landscape.
The Pride of land “Nhut Xu Ba Xuyen” - A Journey of Excellence.
The region once known as "land of Ba Xuyen," now Soc Trang Province, has a rich legacy of distinctions. It stands as a premier hub for rice production and commerce in Indochina, boasting the esteemed Bai Xau Port that facilitates trade with countries around the world. Additionally, it's renowned for its abundant rice paddies and the globally acclaimed Bãi Xàu rice variety, which has left an indelible mark even in the bustling Hong Kong Harbor.
Rice cultivation in this region is intricately linked to the development of the ancient aquatic rice civilization, shaped by the unique characteristics of the Mekong Delta. However, the natural geographical features of Soc Trang's land, prone to salt and alkali, present challenges to agriculture, particularly rice cultivation. While most of the cultivated land in Sóc Trăng was historically utilized for single-crop rice cultivation, the province shifted its agricultural focus after re-establishment. The province decided to enhance agriculture by expanding multiple-crop farming, with an emphasis on advancing irrigation techniques.
The evolution of Soc Trang, from once-desolate and saline lands with rudimentary agricultural practices, to the present day, with its distinctive rice varieties like ST3, ST5, ST20, and the remarkable ST25, has been a gradual process. This achievement is the result of the dedication of many individuals, especially those committed to the agricultural sector, who have worked tirelessly to create new rice varieties with exceptional productivity and quality. These efforts have led to ST3, ST5, ST20, and ST25 rice varieties being recognized as "World's Best and Second Best Rice" in 2019 and 2020.
A significant milestone was achieved in 2019, at the World Rice Trade Conference in Manila, Philippines. The ST25 rice variety, bred by a team of Soc Trang scientists including Engineer Ho Quang Cua, Dr. Tran Tan Phuong, and Engineer Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, was awarded the title of "World's Best Rice 2019."
The ST25 rice can be cultivated twice a year, with growth cycles of 105-115 days for the spring crop and 102-110 days for the autumn crop. With an average plant height of 105-110cm, sturdy stems, medium branching, upright leaves, elongated panicles, tightly-packed grains, golden husks, slender and aromatic white grains, ST25 is known for its tolerance to salt and resistance against blast and bacterial leaf blight. It stands tall against strong winds, showcasing broad adaptability, and yielding an average of 6.5-7.0 tons/ha or potentially over 7.0 tons/ha with intensive cultivation.
The legacy of Soc Trang's rice cultivation journey, which began with challenges and has culminated in international acclaim, stands as a testament to the province's enduring commitment to innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.
Long-Term Strategy for Rice Cultivation in Soc Trang Province.
Soc Trang Province is dedicated to enhancing the value of its agricultural products to increase farmers' income and elevate income per unit of land area to over 250 million VND/ha by 2025. Of this target, the province aims for over 80% of its rice production to comprise premium-quality specialty rice. To accomplish this goal, Sóc Trăng has formulated a comprehensive plan to develop its brand and upgrade the value chain of its specialty rice.
Specifically, the province will focus on cultivating specialty rice varieties such as fragrant rice in the ST series (ST24, ST25), seasonal Tai Nguyen rice, and aromatic light rice with an emphasis on safety and environmental friendliness, aligning with the principles of sustainable and secure agriculture. Alongside defining 21 specialty rice material zones, establishing 17 adaptive cultivation models for specialty rice in response to climate change, the Soc Trang Specialty Rice Development Project places significant emphasis on strengthening cooperatives, enhancing the quality of the production network, and supplying specialty rice seeds locally. Additionally, it strives to accelerate the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to farmers.
By pursuing these initiatives, Soc Trang Province is poised to revolutionize its rice cultivation landscape, promoting sustainable, safe, and high-quality rice production. This strategy underscores the province's commitment to the well-being of its farmers, economic growth, and the continued growth of its reputation as a hub of premium specialty rice.
Overcoming various challenges, price fluctuations, and risks posed by climate change impacts, over the course of 30 years, Soc Trang rice cultivation has truly affirmed its value "from the fields to the dining table," steadfastly sounding the bell in foreign lands and achieving unexpected successes. The Agriculture and Rural Development sector of Soc Trang province, businesses in the province, and the farmers themselves will continuously maintain and expand the cultivation of specialty rice varieties and high-quality rice, laying the foundation for sustainable agricultural development for the future, for abundant harvest seasons... So that many years from now, Soc Trang will still proudly bear the title of being the largest hub of quality rice in the Mekong Delta.