Indigenous Rice Varieties of the Muong People are Disappearing

After receiving training and support from the Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC), Mrs. Thuong and other farmers from her village in Tan Lac district traveled to Italy for the World Organic Conference. They showcased their village's black sticky rice, highlighting Vietnam's unique agricultural products. The JVC encouraged sustainable practices like single-tiller planting and manure use, leading to reduced reliance on chemical pesticides and improved rice quality. While effective, these organic methods often yield less appealing crops that fetch the same price as conventional rice, discouraging wider adoption. Furthermore, indigenous rice varieties like black sticky rice are being abandoned for higher-yielding hybrids. Despite lower yields, these traditional varieties possess unique qualities, such as the cold tolerance of Dai Bac Tam rice. The shift away from traditional farming also impacts practices like rice-duck farming, which, despite its environmental and health benefits, offers no price advantage, leading to its decline.