成果の概要

We collected information of current status and problems of rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta – Vietnam, the needs of farmers, research environment and capacity of local research institutions. First, we had a meeting and a tour of the university facilities in An Giang University. We also visited three-season intensive rice cultivation systems in which dike has been constructed. From interviews with farmers, we learned that the high ratio of chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied and high cost of labors are the main reasons leading to the high inputs of rice cultivation in the area. In the coastal province of Kien Giang, shrimp-rice crop rotation is being promoted, and farmers who have adapted to this crop rotation have reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and increased profits; however, there are also rice paddies in the vicinity where crop rotation is not being successfully implemented. In addition, the farmers were aging. In order to shift to labor-saving rice cultivation, rice cultivation is changing from transplanting to direct seeding.