Early pest and disease forecasting, protecting Dien Bien's golden season

Forecasting pests and regulating irrigation helps Dien Bien proactively produce agriculture, minimize damage after floods, and improve crop productivity.

After prolonged heavy rains, high humidity makes it easy for pests and diseases on crops to break out, especially blast, brown planthopper, rice sheath blight and corn armyworm. Recognizing this risk, the Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention of Dien Bien province has coordinated with the Department of Agriculture , Regional Agricultural Service Centers and the Center for Agricultural Extension - Plant and Animal Breeding to synchronously deploy forecasting solutions and technical guidance to protect production for farmers.

Mr. Phan Van Vuong, Acting Head of the Irrigation and Disaster Prevention Sub-Department of Dien Bien province, said: Right from the beginning of the crop season, specialized units have assigned staff to closely monitor the fields, grasp the growth situation of crops, monitor the development of pests and diseases, and provide early forecast information to adjust the crop schedule, irrigation and drainage schedule appropriately. When heavy rains occur, the Sub-Department promptly directs the lowering of water levels in canals, ditches and key works, ensuring rapid drainage, reducing field humidity, and limiting the environment for fungal diseases.

Dien Bien farmers check crop fields to detect pests early. Photo: Hoang Chau.

In the highland areas, water regulation is flexibly implemented, helping to maintain suitable humidity for rice, corn and other crops. In addition, agricultural officials guide people to use integrated pest management (IPM), field sanitation, balanced fertilization, aeration of the field surface and use biological pesticides to gradually replace chemicals, to protect the environment and soil ecosystem.

At the Regional Agricultural Service Centers, training and propaganda activities continue to be promoted. Many technical training courses on post-flood crop care, drainage procedures, flood-damaged tree recovery and early detection of pests are organized right in the villages. Some proactive pest control models such as light traps, pheromone traps, spraying biological products, etc. are also being replicated, especially in key rice and corn production areas.

Agricultural staff instruct people on pest control. Photo: Hoang Chau.

In addition, localities have established a rapid information group between technical staff and farmers, helping to continuously update field images, weather developments and newly emerging pathogens. The forecasting information system has been improved thanks to the application of software to monitor weather, reservoir water levels, rainfall, etc., supporting professional agencies to issue timely warnings, minimizing risks in agricultural production.

Forecasting and coordination not only helps farmers limit losses but also contributes to improving the efficiency of water resource management, ensuring safe and sustainable production in the context of climate change. The connection between the irrigation and agriculture sectors in monitoring pests and regulating irrigation water is becoming an effective coordination model, helping Dien Bien to be more proactive in responding to and protecting agricultural production in the highlands.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/du-bao-sau-benh-som-bao-ve-mua-vang-dien-bien-d784983.html