The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) estimates that Vietnam holds 7 billion cubic meters of peat across 36,000 hectares, with the Mekong Delta containing the largest deposits.
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Peat is emerging as a key natural resource for organic fertilizer production. |
Peat moisture content ranges from 18% to 58%, with the South Central Coast, Southeast, and Central Highlands averaging 48.5%, while the Mekong Delta has a moisture content of 28.2%. Due to the added drying costs of high-moisture peat for organic fertilizer production, the Mekong Delta - Vietnam’s largest agricultural production region - holds a cost advantage in producing peat-based fertilizers.
Minister Le Minh Hoan emphasized that both in short and long terms, using agricultural byproducts for organic fertilizers is vital to Vietnam's agriculture, supporting the transition towards ecological, circular farming systems. This strategy will boost climate resilience, reduce emissions, and enhance agricultural product value.
According to Doan Van Chien from the National Agricultural Extension Centre in the Southwest region, Vietnam aims to lead the region in organic fertilizer adoption, with 50% of cultivated land using organic fertilizers and 80% of provinces establishing organic fertilizer-based value chain models for key crops.
Additionally, Vietnam plans to use 100% of available biomass from crops, livestock, aquaculture, and household waste for both household and industrial-scale green fertilizer production.
Chien noted that peat-based fertilizers enhance soil structure, reduce water loss, and support root development while helping to combat drought and erosion. Processed with lime, additives, and microorganisms, peat produces organic and mineral fertilizers that improve soil quality and increase crop yields by 10–20%, benefiting farmers economically through organically natural means.
Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces in the Mekong Delta hold the largest peat reserves.
Tran Minh Giao, a representative of Huong Tram Kien Giang JSC noted that Kien Giang’s 95-hectare reserve can produce 50,000 tons of organic fertilizers annually, reducing farmers' reliance on synthetic fertilizers and preserving soil ecosystems.
Dr. Bui Thanh Huong from the Institute of Chemical Technology explained that peat's porous structure retains vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are gradually released to plants, preventing leaching. Slow-release peat-based fertilizers enhance nutrient absorption, promoting green and sustainable agriculture in Vietnam.
Source: VNA