Affirming the Mot Bui Do Hong Dan-branded Rice

Today, there are uncountable varieties of rice on the market like Nang Huong, Nang Thom, Thom Lai, Thom My and Thom Nhat. Each of them has its own flavour and Mot Bui Do Hong Dan rice, which features a mild flavour and high nutrition content, is gradually winning widespread trust.

Second rice variety geographically indicated

According to results in three surveys by Institute of Mekong Delta Rice, Mot Bui Do rice has a grain length of 6.8 mm and has an average yield of 6 tonnes per ha. The pure white rice has a unique natural and mild flavour and does not need pesticides and fertilisers to grow. The hard and equal rice grain is unbroken when it is husked. The content of protein and amylase is relatively high. Notably, this rice variety is very delicious and sufficiently nutritous, especially the iron content which is not high in other rice species.

With many outstanding features, especially salt-resistance, Mot Bui Do is always the top choice for cultivation. First, Mot Bui Do was grown in Loc Ninh, Vinh Loc, Vinh Loc A, Ninh Thanh Loi, Ninh Hoa, and Ninh Quoi A (Hong Dan district). To date, it has been expanded to other localities like Phuoc Long, Vinh Phu Tay, Vinh Thanh and Phuoc Long (Phuoc Long district), raising the total area of this rice species to 21,000 ha. Mot Bui Do rice can grow on alkaline and saline soil with very high qualty.

In the past, amid increasing presence of foreign rice in the domestic market, to maintain and preserve the valuable rice species, and develop the rice brand on both domestic and international markets, the People’s Committee of Bac Lieu province has quickly registered geographical indication for Mot Bui Do rice. Until now, Vietnam has only 15 agricultural products granted geographical indications and Mot Bui Do Hong Dan rice is the 14th agricultural product and the second rice to be granted GI certificate after Tam Xoan rice (Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province) as it is produced in natural conditions. Bac Lieu has 21,000 ha of rice distributed over 10 communes in two districts of Hong Dan and Phuoc Long. This is a big advantage for Bac Lieu farmers because the backing of a brand is, first of all, the uniform and safe material zone.

In a strategy to create a brand for Mot Bui Do Hong Dan rice, farming co-operatives have applied GAP standards to grow Mot Bui Do Dan Hong rice. Scientists from the Institute of Mekong Delta Rice and Bac Lieu province have incessantly sought to introduce organic and delicious rice for domestic and international markets. These efforts have been fruited as Mot Bui Do Hong Dan rice has been exported to Europe in a large volume.

Enhancing branding sustainability

According to Deputy Director of Bac Lieu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Luong Ngoc Lan, farmers in Bac Lieu province have for a long time grown rice while ignoring the farming schedule, variety selection and a sustainable development direction. A long-existing problem is that farmers lack market information and forecasts. To date, with the certification of Mot Bui Do rice, farmers have started to apply new practices. In particular, Mot Bui Do rice production area is expanding and will surpass the 21,000 ha threshold soon. Then, local governments, agricultural sector and farmers have to actively put forth solutions to meet production requirements, maintain and improve the quality of rice and expand the market for the product.

In the past, together with constructing and managing activities, the People’s Committee of Bac Lieu province have actively promoted and advertised Mot Bui Do Hong Dan Do rice trademark by supporting farming co-operatives to take part in exhibitions to display and introduce the valuable rice variety. Especially, Hong Dan district recently sent a delegation to Ho Chi Minh City, the largest economic hub in Vietnam, to introduce Mot Bui Do rice at fair trades and some supermarkets. The brand has also increased its popularity in northern localities like Hanoi, Hai Phong and has foreign partners. The branding effort of the Bac Lieu provincial government is very important. However, to ensure a strong foothold for a local product like Mot Bui Do rice on the market, in addition to training and transferring farming, tending, preserving and harvesting technologies and techniques, it is crucial to equip farmers with the brand construction and protection.

Tags: Mot Bui Do Hong Dan rice, Vietnam rice, Vietnam rice brands