SURVEY ON THE STATE OF RICE RESIDUES MANAGEMENT IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM

Abstract

In the Mekong delta of Vietnam, approximately 26 million tons of rice (Oryza sativa L.) residues are produced every year. The management of rice residues generates large volumes of organic waste that are currently not being sustainably utilized. An investigation into rice residue management was conducted by interviewing households in five provinces: Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Can Tho, Dong Thap and Kien Giang. A total of 250 households were interviewed. The results indicated that local farmers used four common methods for managing rice residues: burning, incorporated in to soil, straw collection for other purposes, and shrimp farming. Burning of rice residue is common in the area. The usage of rice residue also varied seasonally. In the winter - spring season, burning was most common, followed by the summer - autumn and autumn - winter seasons. Conversely, the proportion of straw incorporated into the soil was relatively high during the autumn-winter and summer-autumn seasons. From 2012 to 2023, there was a decreasing trend in the proportion of rice residue burning while the percentage of starw collection was increas. Generally, the methods of using rice residue after harvest vary across different agro-ecological zones. In the upper delta zone, farmers primarily burn the residue, while in the coastal zone, they tend to use it as feed for shrimp. Thus, if rice residues are managed properly, they could significantly improve soil health, reduce air pollution and enhance sustainable crop productivity.