Rice varieties ST24 and ST25 were planted at the foot of Chu B’lúk volcano, developed by the alluvium of Krong No river, creating the famous Dak Nong rice brand.
Rice varieties ST24 and ST25 were researched and developed by agricultural engineer Ho Quang Cua (Soc Trang province). More than 5 years ago, this world famous rice variety was brought to Dak Nong by Mrs. Chu Thi Muoi, a farmer in Buon Choah commune (Krong No district).
Ms. Muoi is also one of the first few farmers to bring ST24 and ST25 rice varieties from the West to the Central Highlands for mass production. Since then, ST has become the highest income rice variety for people living at the foot of Chu B’lúk volcano.
Ms. Muoi shared that she herself could not have imagined that from the initial area of 4 sao, now ST rice variety has covered nearly 700ha of wet rice in Buon Choah commune – the largest food granary in the South Central Highlands.
Ms. Chu Thi Muoi and Mr. Doan Gia Loc were the first to bring ST rice varieties to be planted in Buon Choah commune (Photo: Dang Duong).
Ms. Muoi recalls that in 2017, while watching TV, she saw an advertisement for delicious ST 24 rice, so she cherished the intention to buy seeds and try planting them. The next day, Mrs. Muoi brought this idea to Mr. Doan Gia Loc, who was also the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Agriculture and Rural Development) in Krong No district at that time.
Coincidentally, Mr. Loc also intends to bring the ST 24 rice variety to the locality for trial planting to replace the degraded rice varieties. Therefore, after Mrs. Muoi proposed, Mr. Loc accepted immediately.
A few days later, 50kg of ST24 rice seed was delivered to Mrs. Muoi and sown on an area of 4 sao. As a new rice variety, the production process is unknown, so in the first crop, the rice leaves were twisted, Mrs. Muoi only obtained one ton of rice per 4 sao. This yield is only 1/10 of the rice varieties grown by local people.
The rice grain of the ST rice variety is clear, unbroken, and delicious (Photo: Dang Duong).
“When I harvested the first crop, I was also depressed, thinking that the next crop would return to traditional rice cultivation. However, when I tried to cook rice, I found that this ST 24 rice was very delicious and rich in taste, so I decided to plant more. So far, my family maintains ST24 and ST25 rice production on an area of 4ha, with an average yield of 10 tons/ha, income increased by about 25%, “Ms. Muoi recounted.
According to Ms. Muoi, the difference of ST24 and ST25 rice grown here is that the rice grain is clear, unbroken, delicious, and has a strong flavor. It is the result from the accumulation of alluvium, forming the fertile layer of the Krong No River for this land. More special is the mineral content from the weathering of the rock plateau located at the foot of Chu B’lúk volcano.
The field of hundreds of hectares planted with ST rice is located on the Krong No river (Photo: Dang Duong).
Sharing about the process of bringing ST rice variety to plant on the father river (Krong No river – one of the two branches of the Serepok river flowing backwards), Mr. Doan Gia Loc was excited because the rice variety has contributed to changing the appearance. of one of the most difficult areas of Dak Nong province.
Mr. Loc is also a companion with Ms. Muoi, promoting the ST rice variety to be cultivated and mass-produced in Krong No district.
Mr. Loc said, more than 10 years ago, Buon Choah was still a low-lying area of Dak Nong. Being a purely agricultural commune, economic conditions are difficult due to frequent flooding in the rainy season. Many land areas can only produce one crop because of drought and laterite.
At that time, people were still cultivating according to the custom of “poking holes, pruning seeds”, so it is not easy to get the results that are hundreds of hectares of ST rice fields today.
The area of rice cultivation ST24 and ST25 is increasingly expanding, now up to 1,400ha, cultivating 2 crops (Photo: Dang Duong).
“In 2017, 50kg of ST24 variety from Soc Trang province was tested by Mrs. Muoi. Along with the drastic support of the district and the support of the people, the ST24 and ST25 rice growing area has expanded, now has reached 1,400. ha cultivated 2 crops with about 300 households participating”, Mr. Loc said.
Through production, it has been shown that ST rice grows, develops and has very good resistance to pests and diseases. Especially rice has many preeminent characteristics, clear grain, rich, fragrant rice, outstanding nutritional content. Up to now, Buon Choah rice products have joined the e-commerce trading floor Postmart and OCOP (program for each locality, a strong product).
“After the trademark is certified, the Krong No rice brand is known and trusted by more and more people. The retail price of ST24 and ST25 rice is currently at 22,000-26,000 VND/kg, the net value of rice cultivation. reaching nearly 160 million VND/ha, people’s lives have been improved”, the leader of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Krong No district informed.