In order to bring farmers new technical advances in rice cultivation, Quang Tri Agricultural Extension Center cooperated with Saigon Kim Hong Trading and Service Co., Ltd. in the 2022-2023 winter-spring harvest to develop the cluster seeding testing model to deploy machine on an area of ​​1 ha at Tien My Cooperative, Vinh Lam Township, Vinh Linh District.

The clustered rice seeder model in rice production aims to increase labor productivity and reduce the amount of seeds sown. With traditional sowing, the seed rate is 150-200 kg/ha, with row sowing approx. 80 kg/ha and with cluster sowing only approx. 50 kg/ha seed rice. At present, agricultural production labor is becoming increasingly scarce, so the use of cluster seeders is very convenient, since it both saves rice seeds, shortens sowing time and reduces labor costs. Sowing groups have a row spacing and thus save material, fertilizer and pesticides. In particular, it reduces the situation that rice falls down in wind and heavy rain.

Mr. Vo Van Long, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Lam Township, Vinh Linh District, said: In the winter-spring harvest of 2023, Vinh Lam Township planted 671 hectares, including 43 hectares for organic and organic rice production. In addition to saving labor, the municipality is currently collecting land and building large fields, so the use of cluster seeders is very suitable for building large fields.

Mr. Ngo Van Day, an agricultural adviser and former deputy chief of the Southern Bureau (National Center for Agricultural Extension), spoke to us while directing the assembly of the machine and guiding the operation of the group seeder: Compared to transplanted rice, clustered rice can also be considered transplanted rice, but transplanted from the stage of seed germination is better than transplanted rice in terms of plant physiology. Therefore, in addition to the problem of reducing varieties and fertilizers, like transplanters, the economic efficiency is higher than transplanters, 1ha of bundled rice with seeds and labor costs only VND 2 million, while 1ha of rice transplanted with both varieties and labor is only 2 Million VND up to 6 – 8 million VND.

Mr. Ngo Van Day pointed out the requirements when people use cluster seeders: “First, farmers must implement strictly, level the ground, treat grass, and treat yellow snails thoroughly. Second, the strain must use certified seed or higher, good seed health, and a high germination rate. And the third requirement is to fertilize early, fertilize the first 2 times, one is the forage, the other is the first tillering. Because cluster seeding is sparse seeding, when applied later, the rice will not be tilled in time, later the paddy field will not have cotton or short cotton, these are the 3 basic requirements, and the other requirements are basically the same as the techniques. another sowing”.