Brand value of organic rice

According to the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research, the infrastructure components of the Tam Phuong and Nam Mang Thit irrigation projects have comprehensively developed Vinh Long Province’s agricultural production in terms of rice yield and output. By fully controlling salinity, tidal surges, and sea-level rise, the province has planned high-quality rice production areas to serve domestic and export markets with an area of 50,000 hectares. A typical example is the Tam Phuong irrigation project in Chau Thanh Commune, where the irrigation system has been comprehensively developed with level I and II canals, in-field ditches, and salinity prevention and freshwater supply sluices, ensuring freshwater supply for more than 7,000 hectares of farmland in the communes of Chau Thanh, Hung My, and Song Loc. Previously, farmers in the project area only cultivated two rice crops per year with unstable yields; now, 100% of the land produces three rice crops per year, achieving yields from 5.5–8 tonnes/hectare depending on the crop.

After consecutively cultivating four low-emission rice crops, Huynh Cong Chanh, a member of Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative from Hoa Hao Hamlet, Hung My Commune, expressed his delight that “My family cultivates 1.5 hectares of ST24 rice, applying techniques such as cluster sowing, alternate wetting and drying irrigation, using organic and biological fertilisers, integrated pest management (IPM), and producing rice in compliance with VietGAP standards, with the cooperative guaranteeing product output. Results show that the low-emission rice model helped my family reduce seed use by 60%, fertiliser use by 20%, cut three pesticide sprays, achieve yields of 6.5–7.5 tonnes/hectare depending on the crop, and increase profits by about 8 million VND/hectare compared to traditional rice cultivation.” The rice and rice products of Phuoc Hao Agricultural Cooperative branded “Gao que huong” were recognised as 3-star OCOP products by the province. The cooperative’s rice grains are fragrant, soft, and sweet, safe for consumers’ health, and serve the domestic market nationwide.

Nguyen Khanh Hoa, Chairman of Long Hiep Commune People’s Committee, said that Ngoc Bien Agricultural Cooperative has attracted 55 members, with over 100 hectares of rice land, of which 50 hectares of high-quality rice have achieved VietGAP certification. In addition, the cooperative has linked and signed contracts for the purchase of organic rice from farmers in the communes of Tra Cu, Dai An, and Ham Giang, with an area of 300 hectares, at prices 200–500 VND/kg higher than the market rate. The ST25 rice product under the brand name “Que toi” of the cooperative, in partnership with Thuan Thien Private Enterprise, has been rated a 4-star OCOP product. Also, in Long Hiep Commune, Long Hiep Agricultural Cooperative (established in 2018) has attracted 72 farming households, with a rice cultivation area of over 200 hectares and charter capital of 2.7 billion VND. Every year, the cooperative contracts to buy ST25 rice at 500 VND/kg higher than the market price from 20 hectares of many households in Don Chau Commune. Its ST25 rice product branded “Hat Ngoc Rong” has achieved 4-star OCOP status and was also recognised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as a typical national rural industrial product in 2023.

Implementing the plan of the former Tra Vinh Province People’s Committee on crop restructuring linked to agricultural production and consumption between 2021–2025, oriented towards 2030, which prioritises investment attraction and business support to develop sustainable rice and rice product value chains, Tien Thanh Cooperative in Long Hoa Commune has been trained, guided, and coordinated in managing the collective brand of Long Hoa–Hoa Minh organic rice. At the same time, 46 associated members of the cooperative have applied clean rice cultivation processes over 36 hectares of land that has not used chemical fertilisers or pesticides for many years. In terms of economic efficiency, the rice yield reaches 5 tonnes/hectare, with a selling price of 14,960 VND/kg, and profits of 51.6 million VND/hectare, much higher compared to self-production farmers (yield 4.5 tonnes/hectare, price 9,000 VND/kg, and profits of about 25.5 million VND/hectare). The Long Hoa–Hoa Minh organic rice product has been certified EU Organic Bio, JAS, and packaged in weights of 2 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, and 25 kg, with anti-counterfeit stamps combined with traceability codes. Each year, the cooperative links with businesses in Ho Chi Minh City to supply the domestic market and export tens of tonnes of Long Hoa–Hoa Minh brand organic rice.

The Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology has accepted a valid application for the certification trademark of Tra Vinh organic rice. Accordingly, the trademark includes organic rice produced in the island communes of Long Hoa and Hoa Minh, and part of Hung My Commune. These localities are currently the owners and managers of the Tra Vinh organic rice trademark.

Le Van Dong, Doctor, Deputy Director of Vinh Long Province’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that nearly 3,900 hectares of rice in coastal communes and wards of the province have been certified as organic, linked with product consumption. The integrated rice–giant freshwater prawn farming models achieve profits of more than 70 million VND/hectare, 4–5 times higher than monoculture rice farming, helping reduce feed and chemical costs. The white leg shrimp rotation with rice under organic farming methods achieves profits of more than 467 million VND/hectare. Organic rice products are naturally fragrant, soft, and sweet, safe for consumers’ health, meeting domestic and export market demand.

Link to the original article