Mechanization of straw, turning by-products into green resources

From forgotten by-products to "green resources" In the Mekong Delta (MD), about 43 to 45 million tons of rice are produced each year, resulting in an estimated 45 to 47 million tons of straw per year. Specifically, Đồng Tháp province, one of the major rice-producing areas in the MD, generates over 4 million tons of straw annually. However, for many years, most of this by-product has been burned or buried directly, leading to the waste of organic resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and a decline in the quality of cultivated land. According to experts, burning 1 ton of straw can emit more than 1.5 tons of CO₂ equivalent and produce fine dust and toxic gases that affect public health and traffic safety. In the context of Vietnam's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the issue of straw management is becoming an urgent problem for rice production in the MD. Mr. Ngô Xuân Chinh, Director of the Center for Research on the Transfer of Advanced Agricultural Technology ...