Nang Thơm Cho Dao rice is ready to be harvested

Ready to be harvest

Nang Thom Cho Dao rice is grown in Cau Chua, Van Phuoc, Cau Lang, Rach Dao and Cho My hamlets (My Le commune) with an area of about 600 hectares. However, rice grown mainly in Cau Chua hamlet (about 200 hectares) is considered class 1. The rice is often harvested at the end of the year, so it is often considered a special gift for Tet. This year, the rice area was decreased, the productivity was only 3 tons per hectare, the output was not much.

The rice is sown in June and July. In the Winter solstice (On the 21st and 22nd days of the 12th Lunar month), the rice flower blooms simultaneously. Especially, if the rice is transplanted 1 or 2 months early, its flowers will also bloom in the Winter solstice. The height of this type of rice is double that of normal rice, the growth cycle is 170 to 185 days (about 6 months) so it is only grown one crop per year.

Nang Thom Cho Dao rice is grown in My Le commune, Can Duoc district

According to Mr. Nguyen Tan Vui (in Rach Dao hamlet), this year, the price of fresh rice is purchased in the field with the price from 9,500 - 10,000 VND per kilogram, higher than previous years. However, the area and the productivity of this year have been reduced significantly because the weather is very erratic, rice is flooded and fallen.

Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Association of My Le commune - Le Van Choi said: “Nang Thom Cho Dao rice is a local specialty because its grains are long, slender, flexible and fragrant. This type of rice is grown only 1 crop per year, farmers mainly harvest and sell on the Lunar New Year. In recent years, the model of Improving the quality of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice (with an area of 40 - 100 hectares) of My Le Agricultural service cooperative and Bay Sanh enterprise to ensure consumption with prices from 9,500 - 10,000 VND per kg has brought high efficiency for farmer".

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Khoe (in Cau Chua hamlet), thanks to participating in the model, he was provided with seeds, fertilizers and ensured the output. This year, more than 1 hectare of his rice achieved higher productivity and quality than in previous years.

Mr. Pham Cong Minh (in Cho My hamlet) said that although there are many difficulties, farmers in the commune still maintain the cultivation of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice. Because Nang Thom Cho Dao rice brand has existed for a long time. At the same time, this type of rice is suitable for the local climate and soil. Besides, although the productivity of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice is lower than other types of rice, its price is always higher than the others from 2,000 - 3,500 VND per kg."

According to Mr. Phan Van Sanh - the owner of Bay Sanh enterprise (My Le commune, Can Duoc district), this year, the productivity and quality of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice in the model is higher than in previous years, reaching nearly 3.5 - 4.5 tons per hectare. Currently, he purchases about 40 hectares. At the current price, the average profit of farmers is 30 to 35 million VND per hectare.

He added: “In order for Nang Thom Cho Dao rice to maintain its brand, local people and authorities should pay more attention to the planning of the rice-growing areas; the application of scientific and technical advances in the rehabilitation of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice; strengthening product consumption; attracting businesses and cooperatives to ensure product consumption, etc. So, the farmers can feel secure in producing and maintaining the famous local specialty rice."

It is necessary to be restored quality

Nang Thom Cho Dao is a famous type of rice. Just once eating it, people can hardly forget its special taste. Therefore, in the past, on the occasion of holidays, New Year or having parties, it was very luxurious to worship ancestors or entertain guests. 

But now, every store sells this rice. Customers can not distinguish between original and fake rice even though the rice is labeled "Genuine Nang Thom Cho Dao rice" grown in My Le commune, Can Duoc district, Long An province. In addition, the quality of rice grown in Cho Dao is also lower. Cooked rice is no longer fragrant. The cold rice can no longer retain its porosity, flexibility and fragrance as before. Due to the decrease in quality of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice, in recent years, it has been rejuvenated by functional agencies.

Quality of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice should be restored

According to the Deputy Director of My Le Agricultural service cooperative - Nguyen Van Tai, in the past, the productivity of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice is from 1.3 to 1.7 tons per hectare, the highest is only 2 tons per hectare. Now, the farmers use a variety of fertilizers to increase productivity up to 4 tons per hectare, its quality is certainly changed. In the past, the fields were filled with silt from the Vam Co river. Now, the soil is infertile due to the embankment. In addition, nowadays, the farmers use hybrid rice varieties instead of the previous pure rice varieties; use chemical fertilizers instead of manure. For these reasons, the quality of rice is certainly reduced.

In October 2005, the Nang Thom Cho Dao rice brand was granted an exclusive trademark by the National Office of Intellectual Property. In April 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted an exclusive protection certificate for the trademark "Nang Thom Cho Dao rice" for 10 years. Although having just been granted a "passport" to the US market, the farmers are very worried because of the decline in rice quality.

“In addition to dredging canals in the field, opening more drains to improve the soil, it is hoped that in the coming years, the functional authorities will provide enough pure seeds for people to grow more to restore the quality of Nang Thom Cho Dao rice "- Mr. Tai added./.

By Huynh Phong - Translated by Pham Ngan

Source: http://baolongan.vn/lua-nang-thom-cho-dao-chuan-bi-vao-mua-thu-hoach-a87948.html