Falling rice prices and rising costs are causing difficulties for farmers.

Rice farmers in Hai Phong are facing rising production costs, while the selling price of their produce is falling.

Harvesting the spring rice crop in the fields of An Lão commune.

Production costs are rising, while rice prices are falling.

The spring rice crop is currently being harvested in full swing. In some large fields in the communes of Viet Khe, An Lao, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, etc., the yield of early rice is expected to reach over 68 quintals/hectare.

In the fields, combine harvesters and straw balers are operating at full capacity. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, from Viet Khe commune, said that since accumulating 50 hectares of production land, he has purchased quite a few types of machinery to serve production.

With modern machinery, farmers are less burdened, but the costs are quite high. Especially during this year's spring rice harvest, fuel prices have increased significantly, driving production costs up by 20-30%. Meanwhile, the price of rice has decreased by 3,000-4,000 VND/kg at the farm gate. It is projected that after harvesting all the rice in the spring of 2026, Mr. Hung's family will achieve a total yield of 70-80 tons, potentially resulting in a loss of 200-300 million VND.

Straw baling machine in the fields of Vinh Lai commune.

Mr. Bui Nang Nhuan, from Thanh Mien commune, is worried because his family has accumulated over 100 hectares of rice fields in several communes, most of which require the use of integrated machinery from land preparation and planting to harvesting. Due to higher fuel prices than last year, not only will his family incur losses from investment costs this spring, but the next crop season may also face similar difficulties.

In fact, farmers in Hai Phong have recently been widely applying mechanization to their fields. Large fields have been formed thanks to households that have the ability to consolidate land or rent or borrow land from households lacking labor.

Large-scale production urgently requires the application of machinery in the fields to meet production demands. However, this year's production season has been affected by high fuel prices, impacting most farmers.

We hope to receive support to stabilize production.

The application of mechanization helps farmers free up labor, but when fuel prices rise, costs will increase accordingly.

Most rice farmers in the communes, especially those with large land holdings, reported that after deducting expenses, they made no profit from this year's spring crop, due to the high cost of fuel.

In particular, the price of diesel fuel has increased the most, from 19,000 VND/liter to nearly 30,000 VND/liter. Most of the machinery used for tending and harvesting the spring rice crop requires diesel fuel. While As a result, product prices have dropped sharply, especially for glutinous rice.

On the other hand, product distribution in the consumer market this year has also been difficult. In fact, businesses and traders are not as busy buying products directly from the fields as in previous years.

According to Tran Manh Hung, head of the Hai Phong Large Land Club, the club has over 200 members who have accumulated large plots of land for production. During the spring rice harvest, the yield was quite large, but this year's spring crop saw increased costs and falling rice prices, making production extremely difficult for farmers…

Many localities are using modern, unmanned rice transplanters.

To strengthen guidance on the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop production and prepare for the 2026 summer crop, Ms. Luong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Agriculture and Environment, requested that relevant agencies under the department coordinate with specialized agencies, industry associations, and businesses involved in purchasing, processing, and exporting rice in the area to update market information, harvest conditions, and rice consumption; promptly compile difficulties and obstacles arising in production to report to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for resolution for farmers. She also requested the organization of conferences to connect supply and demand and facilitate the consumption of rice products for farmers in various communes…

At the same time, the Hai Phong Plant Protection and Crop Production Sub-Department and the Hai Phong Forest Management and Agricultural Extension Board regularly send staff to closely monitor the fields, understand the concerns and worries of farmers, and support them in accessing agricultural product purchasing businesses to sell their spring crop products.

The units are guiding farmers in controlling pests and diseases at the end of the season, and urgently cleaning up the fields in areas where harvesting has been completed early.

Local authorities in the communes are actively connecting with unsecured credit sources from local organizations to access preferential capital, helping farmers feel secure in their production…

HO HUONG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/gia-lua-giam-chi-phi-tang-nong-dan-gap-kho-543856.html