Can Tho, June 6th, 2024 - Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd, in coordination with the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), organized a field visit together with a Seminar to evaluate the ForwardFarming project and discuss future plans for advancing sustainable rice production across the Mekong Delta. The seminar, titled "Potential for expanding ForwardFarming model implementation, contributing to the vision of developing a one-million-hectare rice project focused on high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta”, held at the project demonstration site in Dong Thuan commune, brought together representatives from Bayer Vietnam, NAEC, provincial extension centers, research institutes, industry partners involved in the initiative, as well as many local rice farmers.

Launched in September 2023, the three-year project ForwardFarming is a collaborative initiative between Bayer Vietnam and NAEC, with the participation of various partners in the rice production value chain, including Provincial Agricultural Service Centers, Mekong Delta Rice Institute, Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Saigon Kim Trading Service Company Limited Hong, Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice) and others. Its overarching goal is to help Vietnamese farmers strengthen rice yields while mitigating environmental impacts. This is achieved through three key pillars.

First, the project works to establish demonstration sites showcasing high-quality rice production techniques that optimize inputs and reduce emissions. On-farm - showcasing of integrated practices like optimized seed rate & fertilizer application, water management techniques, and integrated crop protection approaches with Bayer’s Much More Rice Solution.

Second, the major focus of the project is enhancing farmer’s capabilities through extensive trainings. To date, up to 4,500 rice growers in Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang have participated in workshops covering topics such as good agricultural practices, safe, responsible and effective use of crop protection solutions, greenhouse gas mitigation strategies suited to local conditions.

Third, ForwardFarming brings together public and private partners to foster collaboration across the rice value chain. This includes local agricultural extension centers, inputs suppliers, research bodies, assisting with knowledge transfer, market linkages, and scaling of sustainable models.

During the Summer-Fall rice crop, the farming process faced various challenges, including heightened pest pressure and the negative impact of excessive rain on rice growth. However, these challenges were effectively addressed through the implementation of integrated innovative solutions and advanced technologies. Noteworthy measures applied on ForwardFarm included the use of quality seeds from Vinarice, effective pest and disease management with Bayer's Much More Rice solutions, reduction of seed and labour requirements through cluster sowing technology combined with fertilizer application from Saigon Kim Hong company (60kg seed/ha vs 150 – 180kg/ha of farmers’ practice), optimal fertilizer formulas from Binh Dien company to reduce fertilizer usage and improve soil quality, and efficient water management using alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method of  irrigation.

The results of the on-farm demonstrations have been highly positive, showcasing increased yields by 13,5% (5,900kg/ha vs 5,200kg/ha of farmers’ practice) while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts. Mr. Do Tri Hung, a farmer who has actively participated in the project for multiple crop seasons, reported that the ForwardFarming model reduced input costs by 1.5 - 4.0 million VND/ha and increased profit by 13.1% - 54.9% compared to traditional farming practices.

Evaluations conducted by the Mekong Delta Rice Institute also demonstrated that this model significantly improved plant growth, early indications around soil quality improvements, and water savings up to 50% (equivalent to around 110 m3/ha/crop) compared to conventional rice farming methods. Importantly, greenhouse gas emissions were also reduced by 24.7%. These outcomes contribute perfectly to the Vietnam government's goal of developing 1 million hectares of sustainable, high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation.

"We are proud of the progress made through ForwardFarming to demonstrate more sustainable rice cultivation techniques. This project exemplifies the impact we can achieve through - partnerships with farmers, other service providers, value chain partners and government agencies. With the joint effort to expand this model across Mekong Delta, we are paving the way for sustainable, high-quality rice cultivation while driving green growth in the region, contributing to a more resilient and prosperous agricultural future. " – Kg Krishnamurthy, Country Head of Crop Science Division, Bayer Vietnam emphasize.

Looking ahead, Bayer Vietnam and NAEC have outlined several development plans for the future, including ongoing research and assessments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving rice quality, expanding the network of partners, increasing outreach to farmers in An Giang, Kien Giang and other Mekong Delta provinces. This is to coordinate efforts supporting the sustainable development of Vietnam agriculture industry and enhancing the livelihood of local farmers.


About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

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