Overuse of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture cause damages more than benefits. Therefore, in order to creat positive changes in farming habit and improve the quality of rice and giant river prawn in winter – spring crop 2014 – 2015, Tam Nong District (Dong Thap) coordinated with agricultural GAP., JSC to implement the project: Producing Organic rice – raising Giant river prawn inaccordance with the VietGAP process for households who raise giant river prawn in Cu Lao Chim, PhuThanh B commune. Under consultancy of  Prof. Dr. Vo Tong Xuan.
Therefore, company will implement a pilot project for 20.4 ha in Cu Lao Chim, which belongs to Phu Long giant river prawn Cooperative. Company will supply rice variety, organic fertilizer with delayed payment and no interests; technical staffs will support during the crop. In particularly, product price will higher 800 VND/kg than average price.
After harvesting, technical staffs will help farmers following VietGAP prawn farming process, giving handbooks and monitoring throughout crop, ensuring compliance with guiding process,  reducing input costs, improving productivity and quality of commercial shrimp.
The project will bring efficiency in all aspects to farmers and commune. Economically, the project will ensure product consumption, contribute to raising farmer’s income; strengthen tasks, functions and service activities of Cooperative. Company will consume most of products and build trust with farmers.
Socially, the project will improve farmer’s capacity, not only technical expertise but also management skill to the household’s economy, contribute to economic development and new countryside construction.
Through group’s activities, the project also develop mutual relationship in local communities. This is a major premise for building and developing cooperative economic in a higher level.
In addition, the project willstrengthen a close and sustainable linkage between production and consumption, rising rice value chain of Tam Nong district.
Environmentally, farming processes with 100% organic, ensuring safety for direct producer and environment, being against land and water resource degradation, reducing risks for the next prawn crop.
One organic rice crop brings great benefits for prawn farmers. It does not need additional expenses to renovate soil for next prawn season. However, most importantly, production costs reduced by using less chemicals and pesticides. High quality prawn with beautiful shape will be bought with higher price by export prawn processing factories.
 
Lam Trong Nghia – Translator: Y Voan