A pilot project by the Plant Protection Departments of five Mekong Delta provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, An Giang and Can Tho aims to utilize the edges of rice fields to grow 25 variety of flowers to protect rice crops from pests and insects as part of the ‘Eco-tech Rice Growing’ program.
Tien Giang Province is leading the way with 200 out of a total 300 hectares of rice fields as part of the program.
According to Ho Van Chien, director of the Southern Plant Protection Agency, the pilot project will be able to counteract the damages caused by pests and insects and thus help save an average of VND500, 000 per hectare (US$24.4) on pesticide costs while increasing and securing rice productivity.
