Peak period for preventing and controlling rice pests and diseases.

Currently, the spring rice crop is in the late tillering and heading stages, entering a period of vulnerability to pests and diseases. To proactively implement pest and disease control measures and protect crops, the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (TT&BVTV) is coordinating with local authorities to issue notices, strengthen propaganda, and guide people in implementing pest and disease control plans to ensure production safety and achieve a successful winter-spring crop.

Officials from the Yen Lac District Plant Cultivation and Protection Station instruct local people on how to inspect and monitor rice pests and diseases for timely prevention and control. Photo: Nguyen Luong

In mid-April, in some rice fields in Dong Cuong commune (Yen Lac district), many rice plants were showing signs of brown spot disease at the base.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Thuyen, Head of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Station of Yen Lac district, said: “In the 2023-2024 Winter-Spring crop season, the entire district planted about 4,600 hectares of rice. This year, the weather was favorable, and the rice plants bloomed early. However, at this time, various pests and diseases are very active, and if timely control measures are not taken, it will seriously affect production.”

"The review revealed that nearly 1,000 hectares of cultivated land in the district are at risk of or are being affected by pests, mainly in low-lying, flooded areas. In addition, rats are appearing sporadically in many fields, significantly impacting farmers' production activities."

According to a quick report from the Plant Protection and Quarantine Sub-Department on the pest situation in rice crops, during the 2023-2024 Winter-Spring season, the entire province experienced six main pests: brown planthopper and white-backed planthopper, stem borer, blast disease, bacterial blight, small leaf roller, and rats.

Specifically, the peak period for pest outbreaks is from April 15th to May 15th, with an estimated area of 2,000-3,000 hectares infected and 1,500-2,000 hectares requiring pest control.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Sub-Department, said: "The agricultural sector has advised and guided farmers on pest and disease forecasting and control from the beginning of the season based on the application of integrated pest management (IPM), improved rice cultivation systems (SRI), and good agricultural practices (VietGAP); developing rodent control plans, applying manual methods such as netting butterflies, removing egg clusters, catching larvae, collecting golden apple snails, cleaning fields, and uprooting and destroying diseased plants..."

People are advised to use biological, herbal, low-toxicity, and specific pesticides to control pests and diseases when pest density or disease rates reach control thresholds, ensuring adherence to the "four correct principles".

In addition, the agricultural sector directs specialized units to strengthen coordination and tighten management of the circulation, trading, and use of fertilizers and pesticides in accordance with regulations; at the same time, effectively implement domestic plant quarantine work, promptly preventing plant quarantine pests from appearing in the province.

To implement the intensive campaign for pest and disease control in the 2023-2024 Winter-Spring rice crop, the Sub-Department of Plant Protection and Quarantine recommends and guides farmers to prioritize the use of organic fertilizers, bio-organic fertilizers, and microbial fertilizers to increase resistance to pests and diseases; use certain pesticides included in the list of approved pesticides for each type of pest, combined with manual pest control measures.

Direct the Plant Protection and Quarantine Stations to continue conducting supplementary investigations into pests and diseases, determining the geographical area, scale, area, and severity of damage caused by each pest and disease, coordinating with local authorities and relevant units to proactively disseminate information and advise people to regularly inspect their fields, detect harmful organisms early, and take timely, safe, and effective measures to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

To ensure a successful 2023-2024 Winter-Spring crop season, aiming for a total grain production of over 190,000 tons and a production value exceeding 2.2 trillion VND as planned, during the peak period of rice pest control, the Plant Protection and Quarantine Sub-Department is strengthening coordination with local authorities to actively implement training and improve people's knowledge and skills in preventing and controlling rice pests; launching large-scale rodent control campaigns simultaneously in all localities; and strengthening inspection and monitoring of rice pest outbreaks to implement timely remedial measures.

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