The hustle and bustle of the northerly season

Bustling harvest season

From the dreamy coastal city of Rach Gia, we traveled along National Highway 80 to the Tam Ngan Canal, the breeze from the fields caressing the countryside, a truly refreshing experience. Crossing several sturdy concrete bridges, we continued along Provincial Road 948, traversing rice paddies, and witnessed the bustling atmosphere of harvest season. Now, the Bay Nui rice paddies, bordering Chau Doc and Vinh Te wards and Thanh My Tay commune, are a landscape of white water on one side and golden rice stalks heavy with grain on the other. Though contrasting, these two colors create a vibrant rural scene. This year, the autumn-winter weather has been quite favorable, so the rice fields in the Chau Doc and Vinh Te wards have turned a rich golden hue. Driving along the bypass of National Highway 91, past the golden rice paddies, signals a bountiful harvest.

Small traders buy fish at the end of the flood season. Photo: THANH CHINH

In the distance, combine harvesters rumbled along, harvesting rice in the fields. Sacks of rice, full and round, were continuously dumped by workers from the combine harvesters onto the fragrant straw. Following behind were tractors hurrying along, their workers carefully loading each sack of rice. The bustling harvest season is also a joyful time for farmers. Walking through the fields, we felt a pang of happiness for the farmers who had worked hard for three months to produce this precious grain for export and ensure national food security. We met many farmers walking slowly along the edge of the fields, watching the combine harvesters work. Nowadays, rice farming is no longer as arduous as it used to be. From planting to harvesting, machinery assists them. Mr. Nguyen Van Be, who cultivates 20 acres of rice and is currently harvesting, expressed that while it used to be incredibly hard work, it's much easier now.

Mr. Bé said that the most difficult stage in rice cultivation is the heading stage, and mastering the techniques is essential for high yields. During this stage, he intensifies the spraying of nutrients to ensure the rice plants produce large, evenly sized grains. Previously, he had to carry heavy sprayers, walking tirelessly across the fields to spray pesticides. Now, he simply calls a drone operator to come and spray for a few dozen minutes, finishing 20 acres of rice. When it's time to harvest, combine harvesters and traders come directly to the fields to buy the rice. “This rice crop, my field yielded about 6 tons/ha, selling fresh rice at 6,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, I made a profit of about 15 million VND/ha. With 2 hectares, I pocketed 30 million VND, enough money for Tet (Lunar New Year),” Mr. Bé said with a smile.

Doing business at the end of the flood season.

As the northerly tide arrives, the fish from the fields rush back to the river, ending their months-long migration and breeding season. This cycle seems to be an unchangeable rule established by nature, deeply ingrained in the hearts of rural people. This is the time when people take advantage of the last fish and crabs of the receding water season. Along the Vinh Te canal and then the Tha La canal, everywhere you look, you'll see people busily setting traps, casting lines, and casting nets in the canals or fields to catch the fleeing fish. This season is popularly known as the "fish coming out" season. They time their fishing according to the tides on the 10th or 25th of the 10th lunar month to harvest the fish. Long, sprawling nets are spread across the canals. Every few dozen meters, you can see boats slowly drifting along the canals, catching various fish species like carp, catfish, and eels.

Loading his fishing nets onto his small boat, Mr. Nguyen Van Phu said that after casting his nets for two months straight in the flooded fields, he had harvested a lot of fish, earning over 10 million dong, enough to support his family. The late flood season is a good time for poor people to make a living. On days when the fish are abundant, each boat catches at least 20kg of carp and other large fish, about the size of a hand. Currently, these fish are sold by traders at the field for 30,000 dong/kg, and retail at the market for 60,000 - 70,000 dong/kg. "From now until the end of the flood season, I hope to catch a lot of fish so I have money to cover my living expenses during the Lunar New Year," Mr. Phu expressed.

Seeing a large fishing boat docked along the Tha La canal, we stepped onto the small, precarious bridge and met Ms. Nguyen Thi Cua (40 years old) diligently sorting fish and crabs. Inside, the boat looked like a mobile home, crammed with pots and pans… There was a small table where Ms. Cua's youngest daughter studied. She cheerfully said, "Today is the weekend, so my husband and I brought our daughter onto the boat to ease our longing for her. On weekdays, the little ones stay with their grandmother. Throughout the three months of the flood season, my husband and I fish in the fields using traps."

Ms. Cua said that this rice field, located in Thoi Son ward, borders the Kingdom of Cambodia. Every year, during the flood season, fish and shrimp follow the water into the rice fields to breed, and the locals harvest a lot of "catch." Recently, the water level in the fields has dropped by more than 1 meter. Looking at the water marks still visible in the fish traps, everyone can clearly see the peak of the year's flood. At noon, Ms. Cua and her fellow vendors sat scooping up baskets of fish and quickly sorting them into different types: carp, catfish, tilapia, and other species, preparing them for sale at the afternoon market. She said that her husband, Mr. Tran Van Hoai, was taking down the fish traps in the field and bringing the fish in for her to sort before selling.

On average, Ms. Cua and her husband catch 50-60kg of various types of fish daily. On days when the tide is right, they harvest over 100kg, earning more than a million dong. She shyly remarked, "Even with such high income, it's still not enough to live on! The investment cost for fishing gear is very high. Every day, I have to hire workers to sort the fish because there's quite a lot of fish." When the water recedes and the fields dry up, the couple will bring their traps down to the canal banks to continue fishing. Near Tet (Vietnamese New Year), they roll up their nets and return home.

As the north wind blows and the weather changes, preparing to bring the scent of spring to every alley and street, every household is bustling with activity, preparing to welcome a prosperous Lunar New Year.

THANH CHINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/hoi-ha-mua-bac-a470046.html