Rice prices are rising, and farmers are busy planting for the summer-autumn crop.

VINH LONG: The slight increase in rice prices has helped farmers relieve psychological pressure and prepare for planting the new crop.

These days, the rice market in the Mekong Delta has warmed up again. Although this price increase came late, as most farmers had already sold their fresh rice in the fields after the winter-spring crop to rotate capital, the upward trend in the market has created an important psychological effect for the new crop.

People are busy buying fertilizer and transporting it by boat to the fields to prepare for planting the new crop. Photo: Ho Thao.

In Vinh Long , fragrant rice varieties of the ST group are currently being purchased by traders at 8,000 VND/kg, Dai Thom 8 ranges from 6,800 - 7,000 VND/kg (an increase of nearly 1,000 VND/kg compared to the previous month), and the OM 5451 group remains stable around 5,800 VND/kg.

When the output shows positive signs, farmers are more confident in investing their capital. Across the fields of Hung My, Chau Thanh, Hung Hoa, Tieu Can, Song Loc communes, etc., the sound of plows turning over the dry land resounds, preparing for planting the 2026 summer-autumn crop.

In Hung My commune, the sowing schedule for over 3,100 hectares of rice land has been set in two phases from May 21st to June 10th by the authorities to proactively avoid pests and take advantage of freshwater. Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoan, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: "With rice prices returning, the farmers are very happy. In the past few days, taking advantage of favorable weather, farmers along the dikes have gone to the fields to clear weeds, reinforce embankments, and prepare rice seeds according to the local technical recommendations."

The atmosphere of preparation for production at large-scale cooperatives is even more urgent. At Phat Tai Agricultural Cooperative (Chau Thanh commune), members are simultaneously preparing the land to sow 180 hectares next week. This year, the farmers' mindset regarding rice cultivation has changed significantly thanks to the effect of the Project on 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice.

Mr. Tran Van Chung, Director of Phat Tai Cooperative, calculated: "Previously, farmers sowed up to 20kg of seeds per hectare, but now they've switched to row sowing and sparse sowing, using only 7-10kg. The amount of chemical fertilizer has decreased by 20-30%, and pesticides have been sprayed 2-3 times less. In total, each hectare saves more than 3 million VND in materials."

Farmers fill their fields with water to prepare for sowing the summer-autumn crop. Photo: Ho Thao.

Thanks to reduced input costs, farmers are able to focus their efforts on improving the quality of rice grains. Recently, rice samples from Phat Tai Cooperative sent for testing at Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang Co., Ltd. met the safety standards according to the strict requirements of Europe (EU) and Japan.

Therefore, the cooperative is balancing its capital to independently purchase, guarantee, dry, and store the produce for its members, proactively waiting for the best market conditions before selling.

The summer-autumn crop in Vinh Long has never been an easy one. The early season's intense sunshine easily causes the soil around the rice paddies to turn gray with acidity. Furthermore, the harvest period, falling in July and August according to the lunar calendar, coincides with prolonged rains and traditional festivals of the Khmer ethnic group, leading to a shortage of labor for harvesting rice.

Nevertheless, the current rice price support is keeping farmers optimistic. Sitting by the edge of his recently drained rice field, Mr. Kim Minh Tuan, a member of the Rach Lop Cooperative (Hung Hoa commune), calculated on his fingers: "On average, if the harvest is good, after deducting production costs (about 12 million VND for fertilizer, nearly 3 million VND for pesticides, not including harvesting labor), farmers can still make a profit of about 10-12 million VND per hectare. With prices remaining at this level, farmers can confidently plant their crops without worrying like before."

Residents of Hung Hoa commune, Vinh Long province, reinforce dikes in preparation for planting the summer-autumn crop. Photo: Ho Thao.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, for the 2026 summer-autumn crop season, the province plans to plant approximately 111,000 hectares, expecting an average yield of 5.4 tons/ha, with a total estimated production of approximately 600,000 tons. The planting schedule is divided into four flexible phases, lasting from mid-March to the end of June 2026, depending on water resources in each region.

This year's production structure continues to shift strongly towards the high-quality, high-value rice segment. The province prioritizes high-quality rice varieties, accounting for up to 70% of the total area; fragrant and specialty rice varieties like ST account for 5%, and the remainder are medium-quality varieties for processing.

The agricultural sector in Vinh Long is coordinating with localities to accelerate the progress of the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project. The smart light trap system is being operated at maximum capacity to accurately predict outbreaks of pests and diseases such as brown planthopper, leaf roller, and blast, helping farmers proactively control them and minimize the need for pesticide spraying. Market inspections of agricultural supplies are being tightened to prevent the sale of counterfeit fertilizers and pesticides, and to curb hoarding and price gouging during the peak planting season.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/gia-lua-nhich-len-nong-dan-tat-bat-xuong-giong-vu-he-thu-d812099.html