• Finding markets for winter-spring rice crops.

In Vinh Phuoc commune, farmers planted nearly 2,300 hectares of rice during the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop season. Favorable weather and controlled pests and diseases resulted in uniform rice growth, long panicles, and firm grains. Everyone was hoping for a bountiful harvest. However, as harvest time approached, the price of rice dropped by nearly 1,000 VND/kg.

Farmers in Vinh Phuoc commune are harvesting their winter-spring rice crop.

In previous years, at this time, traders would come directly to the villages and hamlets to place deposits and secure contracts, and boats would be bustling with activity waiting to transport goods. This year, however, the atmosphere is subdued, causing concern among the farmers.

Standing on the embankment, looking at his rice fields, almost ready for harvest but with no buyers yet, Mr. Danh Muot (Binh Tot hamlet) couldn't hide his worry: "Farmers depend on these rice harvests all year round. Not only are costs rising, but now the rice we produce is hard to sell. It's really difficult. We just hope that when it's time for harvest, the price will go up and there will be buyers so we can make ends meet for the next season."

Many farmers said that even with low prices, they still have to sell because if they leave the ripe rice to rot and fall over in the fields, the losses will be even greater.

Anxious about his nearly 1-hectare rice crop that's almost ready for harvest but he hasn't found a buyer yet, Mr. Pham Van Bi (Binh Le hamlet) shared: "When it's time to harvest, we have to cut and sell it, otherwise the longer we wait, the more we lose. We have to 'tighten our belts' and get through this season, hoping for a better next one."

Rising oil prices have led to increased costs for harvesting and transporting rice from the fields to the warehouses.

Rice prices have fallen, while input costs have risen across the board. Prices for fertilizers and pesticides have increased by tens of thousands to 150,000 VND per bag, driving production costs up by approximately 20% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, due to rising fuel prices, the operating costs of combine harvesters have increased, leading to a rental price of around 500,000 VND per hectare, 150,000 VND higher than the previous season.

Mr. Tran Cong Son (Binh Le hamlet) shared: “The price of rice has decreased, but the cost of harvesting has increased, fertilizer prices have risen, and labor costs have also increased… making things even more difficult for farmers.”

Farmers in Phuoc Long commune are taking advantage of the sunny weather to dry their harvested rice.

This is not unique to Vinh Phuoc commune; it is a common difficulty faced by farmers in many localities producing the winter-spring rice crop. The involvement of all levels and sectors is crucial in supporting rice consumption, stabilizing harvesting service prices, and maximizing the use of combine harvesters to speed up progress and minimize risks.

In light of this situation, local authorities are actively supporting farmers. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Phuoc commune, said: "The locality has proactively contacted businesses and cooperatives inside and outside the province to connect them with rice purchasing agencies. At the same time, we are developing a project for rice storage and processing to effectively address the issue of consumption. Simultaneously, specialized departments are organizing training and guidance for farmers to adjust cultivation processes, reduce production costs, and improve efficiency in each crop."

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, for the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, the entire province planted 93,436 hectares. To date, approximately 50,000 hectares have been harvested, reaching nearly 54%, with an average yield of nearly 6.5 tons/ha. With this yield, if prices remain stable as in previous years, farmers would still make a profit. However, the sharp drop in rice prices just before harvest has significantly reduced farmers' income. Currently, the price of fresh rice ranges from 5,500 to 6,100 VND/kg, depending on the variety.

Hopefully, the price of winter-spring rice will recover soon. With the involvement of all levels of government, post-harvest rice will be sold promptly, helping farmers rotate capital and reinvest in the next crop season.

Nguyen Linh - Chi Linh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/ho-tro-nong-dan-tim-dau-ra-cho-lua-dong-xuan-a127748.html