Conventional vs Agroecology Practices: Lessons from Vietnam’s Rice Fields

In the rice fields of Dong Thap Province, Vietnamese farmers are putting agroecological and conventional methods side by side to see which system delivers better yields, lower costs, and more sustainable outcomes.

This was one of the key highlights on the first day of the Learning Exchange, held from March 9–12, 2026, in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The event was organized by SEARICE in partnership with Can Tho University–Mekong Delta Research Institute and other local and regional partners. It brought together farmers, researchers, and civil society groups to exchange knowledge and experiences.

For the first day of the learning exchange, the group visited a rice farm located in Lap Vo Village, owned by Mr. Nguyen Tan Binh. This farm serves as a demonstration site for different rice production models, particularly comparing conventional practices and agroecological approaches.

The site was selected as part of the learning exchange because it is included in another project of SEARICE called the STARS Project (Scaling-up Transformative Agroecology for Resiliency and Sustainability). This project supports multiple farms across Vietnam that are experimenting with and scaling agroecological practices. In Southern Vietnam alone, there are four participating communities involving nearly 100 farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Binh shares his experience transitioning from conventional to agroecological rice production, highlighting reduced input costs and comparable yields. During the visit, Mr. Binh’s colleague also demonstrated the use of drone technology for seed sowing and fertilizer application.

The Learning Exchange highlighted clear differences between conventional and agroecological rice farming. In the agroecological model, farmers use a lower seed rate (120 kg/ha compared to 150 kg/ha in conventional farming) to optimize plant spacing and reduce competition, allowing healthier crop growth. Fertilizer use is also reduced, with a shift away from heavy reliance on inorganic inputs toward more efficient nutrient management.

Pesticide application remains in both systems, but the agroecological approach has already cut pesticide and fertilizer use by half. Looking ahead, Mr. Nguyen Tan Binh shared plans to completely eliminate chemical inputs in the next cropping season, noting that yields under agroecological practices are comparable to conventional methods.

Technology Integration in Farm Practices

During the visit, Mr. Binh’s colleague also demonstrated the use of drone technology for seed sowing and fertilizer application.

In many areas, drones are typically provided through government support systems, but due to his long-term engagement with innovation and continuous improvement of his farming practices, Mr. Binh has already invested in his own drone.

The demonstration generated strong interest among the participants. Many expressed excitement and inspiration upon seeing how quickly and efficiently the technology could be applied in the field. The use of drones highlighted the potential of modern technology to support agricultural labor, improve precision, and reduce time and effort for farmers.

At the same time, this experience also opened up reflections among participants on the future direction of such technologies. While drone-assisted seed and fertilizer application is efficient, there was a shared hope that, moving forward, the inputs being applied, particularly pesticides, would transition toward more organic and environmentally sustainable alternatives. This aligns with the broader goal of agroecology: not only improving efficiency through innovation, but also ensuring that farming practices remain ecologically sound and safe for both farmers and the environment.

Second Farm: Agroecological Model and Farm System in Lap Vo Commune

This farm is also a part of the STARS Project of SEARICE. After the farm walkthrough by Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung, a question-and-answer session was conducted, allowing participants to directly engage with him and collectively unpack both technical and practical aspects of the model.

Background of the Partnership and Farmer Innovation

The visit builds on SEARICE’s longtime partnership with Mr. Dung. What began as a modest initiative involving 8 rice varieties has evolved into a farmer-led system of seed development and agroecological farming. Through sustained engagement, SEARICE supported capacity-building initiatives such as Training of Trainers (TOT), PGR conservation, Participatory Plant Breeding (PBB), and Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS).

Field Visit. The participants listen to Mr. Dung as he tours them around the farm. Sudarmanto, an Indonesian farmer, is observing the rice plants.

These interventions enabled farmers to develop their own breeding and selection skills, gain control over seed systems, and transition towards more sustainable and diversified farming practices. This long-term partnership is evident today in Mr. Dung’s ability to not only innovate but also teach and share knowledge with others, making him a key resource person in the learning exchange.

Economic Performance of the Integrated System

The farm operates using an integrated rice–fish–duck system, which shows the principles of agroecology by combining productivity, ecological balance, and diversification.

At the level of production, the farm generates multiple outputs within a single cycle. Rice production reaches approximately 8 tons/ha, while fish production contributes around 1.2 tons/ha, and duck production adds approximately 180 heads per cycle. These outputs are complemented by favorable market prices, with rice sold at around 7,800 VND per kilogram, fish at 40,000 VND per kilogram, and ducks at approximately 110,000 VND per head. In terms of revenue, this translates into a total gross income of approximately 130.2 million VND, broken down into 62.4 million VND from rice, 48 million VND from fish, and 19.8 million VND from ducks. This stands in contrast to conventional rice farming, which generates only about 49.7 million VND in total income.

However, the integrated system also involves higher labor costs. These include expenses related to land preparation for both fields and canals, procurement of fish fingerlings and ducklings, additional labor for managing multiple components, and the use of bio-pesticides. Despite these higher costs, the integrated model remains more profitable.

More importantly, the analysis highlights that the strength of the system lies not only in higher profits but also in its diversified income streams. By producing rice, fish, and ducks simultaneously, farmers are less vulnerable to fluctuations in market prices or climate-related risks. The system enhances both economic resilience and livelihood stability.

Farmer-to-Farmer Dialogue

Q&A Session. The question-and-answer session following the farm walkthrough became one of the most valuable components of the exchange. Participants actively engaged with Mr. Dung, raising questions that reflected both curiosity and critical thinking.

Discussions covered production techniques, pest management, seed systems, and marketing strategies. Participants asked about the timing of duck integration, to which Mr. Dung explained that ducks are released approximately 20 days after transplanting. He also shared practical details about duck management, such as raising 5-day-old ducklings before releasing them into the field, resulting in a relatively low mortality rate of around 5%.

The conversation also explored motivations behind adopting agroecological practices. Mr. Dung emphasized that his decision to join the STARS Project of SEARICE was driven not only by economic considerations but also by a desire to protect his family’s health and the environment. This perspective resonated strongly with participants who mostly practice organic agriculture and highlighted the importance of values in shaping farming decisions. 

Another key area of discussion was seed systems. Participants were interested in understanding ownership and control over seed varieties. It was clarified that farmers retain full ownership of the varieties they develop, reinforcing the principle of farmer autonomy and empowerment.

Marketing strategies also emerged as a critical topic. Mr. Dung shared how he initially built his market through demonstration farms, sharing harvests with his neighbors and schools, and community engagement, gradually expanding to more formalized channels such as product packaging and partnerships with institutions. This showed that successful farm management requires not only production innovations but also market-oriented strategies.