The Rice Institute at the Mekong Delta

On Monday, Sep. 17 my class made the trip south to the Mekong Delta region.  Upon arrival we went to the Rice Institute where they create new varieties of rice.  Established in 1977, the Rice Institute is now the largest provider of rice seed to the Mekong Delta.  The OM variety of rice, breed by the institute, is also grown in Cambodia, South Asia, and Africa.

Rice growing in a greenhouse at the Rice Institute.

 The rice at the institute is grown in small pots first, then transplanted into the rice paddies when it is a few inches high.  The rice grows above water and the actual rice grain that we eat is concealed by a golden husk. The husk is removed by a machine after the rice is picked and dried.

My class walking along a bridge through the flooded rice paddies.

The scientists have genetically engineered the rice so that new types can be grown in a shorter amount of time, thus allowing the farmer to yield more crops throughout the year. Typically, farmers in Vietnam have two crops per year now; one in the spring and the second in the summer and fall.  A few farmers manage to have three crops per year.  Scientists recommend that farmers work together if their rice paddies are near each other.  With multiple people working the field, they can each pitch in to borrow or buy a tractor instead of doing all the work by hand and will likely produce a higher crop yield. 

The rice, still with the husks on, is left in the sun to dry out completely before it is bagged up and sent to farmers as seed.

Vietnam is second in rice export, behind Thailand so check and see what country your rice is from.