BASF, Petrovietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Corporation, Dong Thap authorities help 200 farmers adopt low-emission rice farming

BASF Starting Ventures, Petrovietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Corporation (PVCFC, a member of Petrovietnam), and the local authorities, including the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province, Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection of Dong Thap Province, and People's Committees of Phong My Commune and Truong Xuan Commune, on Thursday announced a joint initiative to support a total of 200 smallholder farmers from four cooperatives.

Through four training and field demonstration sessions in 2026, participating farmers will receive practical guidance on climate-resilient rice farming.

The project will also provide the four cooperatives with straw balers to collect and reuse rice straw after harvest instead of burning, and Alternating Wet-Dry Irrigation Water Management (AWD) facilities, a water-saving technology that farmers can apply to reduce their irrigation water consumption in rice fields without compromising its yield, helping farmers use water more efficiently and with lower emissions.

The beneficiaries include Truong Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Truong Phat Cooperative, Agricultural Cooperative No. 2 Gao Giong, and Thuan Tien Agricultural Cooperative.

"By helping farmers adopt more efficient ways of using natural resources, reduce field burning, and make better use of straw by-products, this project can create positive impact for both local communities and the environment," said Erick Contreras, managing director at BASF Vietnam, which provides innovative chemical and material solutions.

"Together with our partners, BASF is pleased to strengthen cooperation across the agricultural value chain and contribute to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta's rice sector."

Dong Thap, located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, is one of Vietnam's key rice producing regions.

Supported by extensive agricultural land, a well-developed irrigation network, and long-standing farming experience, agriculture, especially rice production, has been a key industry of the province.

In recent years, Dong Thap Province has advanced its rice sector toward more sustainable and high-quality production while reducing farming costs.

At the same time, the province has developed dedicated production areas and enhanced food safety measures to meet the requirements of domestic and international markets.

The majority of farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises in the province have actively applied advanced technologies and sustainable farming practices, thus better meeting stringent requirements of the markets.

Despite this progress, the local rice growers, especially those in Truong Xuan Commune and Phong My Commune continue to face significant challenges.

These include extreme weather conditions, high prices of materials and labor, market price fluctuations, technical barriers, and increasingly stringent requirements of food safety, traceability, emission reduction, and post-harvest straw management.

"Through this project, we aim to equip farmers with practical knowledge and tools to adopt low-emission rice farming, manage water more efficiently, make better use of rice straw by-products, and build stronger linkages across the rice value chain," Contreras said.

"In doing so, we hope to support the sector's transition toward more sustainable, high-quality rice production."