Proactively overcome difficulties in rice production in 2024

Although localities in the Northern region have been proactive in developing appropriate production plans, they have encountered many weather disadvantages such as drought, water shortage, severe cold in the 2023-2024 winter-spring crop, especially storm No. 3 which damaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of summer-autumn rice in many localities, causing rice productivity and output to decrease significantly compared to 2023.

Preparing seedlings for the transplanter of the Agricultural Service Cooperative of Tan Thanh town, Thanh Liem district (Ha Nam).

Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) Nguyen Thi Thu Huong said: "In 2024, localities in the northern region will cultivate 2.228 million hectares, a decrease of about 18 thousand hectares compared to 2023. According to statistics, rice yield reached about 57.3 quintals/ha, a decrease of 1.3 quintals/ha compared to the plan, output reached about 12.766 million tons, a decrease of 288 thousand tons compared to the plan, a decrease of 355 thousand tons compared to 2023".

One of the reasons for the decrease in rice productivity and output is the unfavorable weather conditions that have greatly affected crop production, especially rice in the northern localities. In particular, storm No. 3 has affected rice production in 26/31 northern localities.

According to the Department of Irrigation, in April, the prolonged hot weather and rainfall were 35 to 46% lower than the average of many years, causing drought and water shortages for crops in some provinces such as Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, and Dien Bien .

In addition, in the Northern region, there were two heavy rains, of which from July 16 to 20, 62,936 hectares of rice were flooded; from September 6 to 11, due to the impact of storm No. 3 and the post-storm circulation with total rainfall ranging from 350 to 450 mm, causing damage and flooding to 284,472 hectares of rice, 61,114 hectares of crops...

In addition, in September in the North Central region, storms No. 3 and No. 4, post-storm circulation and the impact of low pressure caused more than 4,000 hectares of rice to be flooded and damaged.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ha Nam province said that although all levels, sectors and localities have proactively developed production plans, in 2024, extreme weather factors affected agricultural production in the area.

The high prices of agricultural materials such as hybrid rice seeds, land preparation machines, water pumps, labor, etc. affect farmers' income. According to the report of the Provincial Statistics Office, the 2024 winter-spring crop in the province planted 28,222 hectares, but due to the impact of storm No. 3, more than 7,100 hectares of rice were affected, of which 1,024 hectares were completely lost; the winter-spring rice yield is estimated at 55.4 quintals/ha, down 2.52 quintals/ha, the output reached 150.6 thousand tons, down 16,074 tons compared to the 2023 winter-spring crop.

In Bac Ninh province, in 2024, about 57,314 hectares of rice were planted. Due to the impact of storm No. 3, heavy rain and strong winds affected the flowering and pollination process, causing a high rate of rice failure.

Rain and floods also inundated many rice areas, reducing productivity and output for the whole year. According to statistics, in 2024, the average rice yield of the province is estimated at 60 quintals/ha, down 4 quintals/ha, with an output of 344,065 tons, down 31,166 tons compared to 2023.

The Department of Crop Production said that in 2025, the northern region is expected to cultivate about 2.205 million hectares, striving for an average yield of 58.8 quintals/ha and an output of 12.960 million tons.

To ensure the target of crop production in general and rice in particular, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung said that localities need to focus on promoting the planting and care of winter crops to compensate for the damage caused by storm No. 3. For rice production in all crops of the year, it is necessary to strictly follow the production plan, especially the structure of varieties and crop calendar; closely monitor and ensure adequate supply of irrigation water for production; guide farmers on advanced farming methods to reduce input materials, fulfill commitments on safe and economical production, and reduce emissions...

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by the end of 2024, severe cold in the Northern region is likely to appear widely.

Farmers are focusing on planting winter-spring rice in 2024-2025 with an area of 1.052 million hectares, so it is necessary to flexibly adjust the appropriate sowing time; absolutely do not sow rice seedlings or transplant rice in the time of severe cold, when the temperature is below 15oC; prepare means and tools to protect rice seedlings from the cold with plastic covers, keep enough water on the field to keep the seedlings warm...

The Department of Irrigation assessed that water resources for production in this winter-spring crop will face difficulties due to the lowering of the water level in the downstream of the Red River system due to the impact of excessive sand exploitation; saline intrusion in the downstream has tended to increase in recent years, especially in the downstream area of the Thai Binh River, affecting the water intake capacity of irrigation works in the Da Do and Tien Lang irrigation systems...

In order to ensure water resources for production in all crops of the year, according to Head of Operation and Irrigation Management Department (Department of Irrigation) Nguyen Manh Hung, ministries, branches, localities and farmers need to strengthen monitoring and forecasting of developments and specialized forecasts on water resources, water quality and saltwater intrusion.

On that basis, promptly inform and warn relevant agencies, localities and people in affected areas to proactively deploy appropriate response solutions; at the same time, develop appropriate plans for agricultural production, drought prevention, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in the winter-spring crop.

Localities need to effectively implement internal irrigation to ensure the ability to conduct and store water; speed up the construction progress and complete the water intake works being invested in to promptly put into operation to supply water for winter-spring crop production.

Along with that, urgently restore irrigation works, intra-field canal systems, ensure the ability to lead and distribute water for production; propagate and guide people on measures to store water and use water effectively, economically, thoroughly prevent water loss and waste...

(According to NDO)

Source: http://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/343291/Chu-dong-khac-phuc-kho-khan-tr111ng-san-xuat-lua-nam-2024.aspx