Mechanisation in rice production has changed significantly the awareness and farming customs of farmers, shifting from a small and unplanned farming form to large-scale production. Mechanisation in rice production is considered an impetus to implement the programme of new rural construction in Hanoi.

 

The project on agricultural mechanisation in Hanoi to 2016, with orientations towards 2020, has initially laid the foundations for innovation and sustainable development of the capital’s agriculture toward commercial production

VIn recent years, many localities in Hanoi have actively implemented the project of agricultural mechanisation. Many mechanised models have been carried out in every commune and district by the Agricultural Extension Centre under Hanoi’s Agriculture and Rural Development. Apart from carrying out the city’s projects on mechanisation, each locality has its own policies to support famers’ activities. For example,  Phu Xuyen district has a policy on giving each family about 70 million dong to buy a tractor while Thanh Oai district assists with 50% of the value of an agricultural machine and agricultural mechanised equipment for agricultural service cooperatives. Soc Son district gives 100% of the value of a rice transplanting machine for households who participate in the model of mechanisation and gives a non-interest loan of two billion dong to support farmers in the implementation of mechanisation. Other districts base their aid on the city’s policies to give out suitable solutions to implementing mechanisation.

At the workshop of the Tuan Tu Joint Stock Investmnet Company - a supplier of farming machines. Photo: Cong Dat Manufacturing multifunctional milling machines at the Tuan Tu Joint Stock Investment Company. Photo: Cong Dat  The Tuan Tu Joint Stock Investment Company has for years supplied Hanoi farmers with products of high quality, competetive prices and good post-sale services. Photo: Cong Dat

After four years of mechanisation in rice production, Phu Xuyen has taken the lead in the movement that helps increase rice productivity from 10 to 15%, reduce production costs from 0.7 to 2.8 million dong/ha/crop, reduce post harvest losses by 2-3%, ensure seasonality and improve the quality of finished rice.

Phu Xuyen district has 148 transplanting machines, three automatic chains for sowing rice seeds in the communes of Dai Thang, Hoang Long and Thuy Phu. The mechanisation has increased the rice production from 1.15 to 1.2 higher than human labour.

After the recent two crops, the use of machines in farming, from preparing the soil, sowing rice seeds to transplanting and harvesting, has helped reduce production costs and bring high economic value to the farmers in Huong Ngai commune, Thach That district.The cost for rice production has been reduced about 28%, saving 500VND/m².

Vu Xuan Than, a famer in Huong Ngai commune, said that thanks to the application of mechanisation in rice production, the cost for each crop/3,600m2 has been reduced two million dong, from six million dong to four million dong. Like the family of Vu Xuan Than, many households in the commune also enjoy the benefits of mechanisation in rice production.

In Hanoi, 100% of the area for rice cultivation and over 60% of the rice area are harvested by machines. This promises to bring bumper crops to the capital and serves as an impetus for completing the programme early on new rural construction.

Farmers in Hanoi use rice-transplanting machines. Photo: Files Rice-transplanting machines help reduce labor for farmers. Photo: Files Combined harvesters shorten harvesting time for farmers. Photo: Files Hanoi farmers use combined harvesters during the harvest season. Photo: Files Using plowing machines in lowland fields. Photo: Files Hanoi farmers widely use combined harvesters. Photo: Files Farmers in Song Phuong commune use plowing machines. Photo: Files Harvesting rice in Hung Tien commune, My Duc district. Photo: Files