On May 27, Department of Science and Technology of Ba Ria Vung Tau province held a council to evaluate the study “Selecting and building rice growing technical process for Nanh Chon, speciality of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province”. The head of the project is MSc. Dao Minh So (Institute of Agricultural Science of Southern Vietnam).

On May 27, Department of Science and Technology of Ba Ria Vung Tau province held a council to evaluate the study “Selecting and building rice growing technical process for Nanh Chon, speciality of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province”. The head of the project is MSc. Dao Minh So (Institute of Agricultural Science of Southern Vietnam).

The subject’s objective is to find out 1 to 2 lines of Nanh Chon rice, an excellent rice specialty of Ba Ria Vung Tau province. The chosen rice lines have to satisfy some conditions such as having high yield, good quality, distinct aroma and high adaptation to Ba Ria - Vung Tau environment. In addition, the study also aims to identify key factors affecting rice productivity, quality and the structure of rice cultivation system of the province. Finally the study evaluates feasibility of growing Nanh Chon rice in Ba Ria - Vung Tau by the advantage comparison with other conventional rice varieties of the province.

The subject consists of different parts: surveying current state of rice cultivation of Dat Do district; testing adaptation of potential Nanh Chon rice; studying technical methods to grow Nanh Chon rice; identifying effects of reservation conditions on rice quality.

Some important results of the subject are listed as below: Update the information of rice production, applying technical advances in rice and the natural and social conditions of original places of NC rice (Dat Do district) to facilitate the recovery seed production;

Lines of Nanh Chon rice have similar growing characteristics which belong to “mua lo” variety. Nanh Chon rice has good resistance to rice blast and leaf scald disease but susceptible to brown backed plant hopper disease. Average yield of prospective lines ranged from 3.5 to 3.8 ton/ha, and reached 4.0-4.5 ton/ha in some areas. Nanh Chon rice has many special qualities such as having long and thin shape, small size, high milling rate (>55%) and low average amylose content (21-22%). Some better lines of Nanh Chon rice have grain length of about 55-60mm, become soft and spongy when cooked. They also have stable fragrance at level 3 with aromatic substances (2AP) range from 2,60 to 2,906 µg/kg. In total 7 Nanh Chon rice lines being experimented, NC2 has the best performance in yield and quality, wide adaptation, high quality and aromatic fragrance always remain at high level than other seed.

Two methods of seeding were experimented on Nanh Chon rice to find out the best seeding time for each. For the conventional seeding method, middle to the end of August is the best period for seeding, resulting in high yield and quality and having desired harvest period as about 3-4 weeks before the traditional New Year. For the wet direct seeding method, the best time for direct seeding is August with the amount of seeds for each ha is about 40 kg.

To preserve quality of Nanh Chon rice, the preservation period is recommended to keep below 7 months in normal conditions and below 9 months in controlled environment with temperature about 20 degree Celsius. With the temperature about 10 degree Celsius, the preservation time can be longer than 9 months.

The study built 1.74 ha of Nanh Chon rice with 9 farmers joined at three production areas: Phuoc Hoi, Lang Dai, Long Tan town, yielding 3.13ton/ha to 3.95 ton/ha, averaging 3.5 ton/ha. If growing in fall-winter term, Nanh Chon rice model has profit increased 1.82 times and cost reduced by 28% with material cost reduced by 44%, comparing to growing short term rice. Growing Nanh Chon rice in summer-fall term lead to increase 1.44 times in profit and reduced cost by 15% and material cost by 22% comparing to the option to grow the conventional short term rice twice a year (summer-fall term and fall-winter term).

The council highly evaluated results of study as having highly practical values and original objectives being met. The subject is accepted and classified as good by the council.