Research on using Japanese duck robots in low-emission rice farming

According to the cooperation signed on March 3, Loc Troi arranged a location for NewGreen to test the Aigamo Robot duck robot, which inhibits weeds without using pesticides, helping to reduce input costs and limit environmental impact.

The Aigamo robot has a stirrer to mix water and mud, preventing light from contacting the weeds. This process also promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria, contributing to reducing methane emissions from rice fields.

The machine is powered by a motor using solar panels and storage batteries. The robot integrates GPS and AI, allowing it to automatically operate within established field boundaries, while also recording operational data.

According to NewGreen, experiments at 36 locations in Japan showed that the amount of weeds – the biggest challenge in organic rice farming, decreased by an average of 58%, while productivity increased by an average of 10%. Loc Troi believes that this robot also has potential to control golden apple snails. After testing in Vietnam, the equipment can be improved to suit soil characteristics and rice production conditions in the West.

Survey project to develop solutions to support high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation using NewGreen’s Aigamo Robot in Vietnam under the “Support Program for Small and Medium Enterprises towards Sustainable Development Goals” of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA hopes that the pilot research will help bring Japanese technology to support productivity improvement, smart agricultural applications and promote low-emission farming in Vietnam. In November 2023, the Government approved a project to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.

Loc Troi, NewGreen and the National Agricultural Extension Center said they will continue to coordinate in testing the model and perfecting the farming process based on the duck robot system, aiming to produce, assemble and disseminate this technology in Vietnam.