Urgent measures needed to save newly sown rice.

Due to heavy rain on the evening of May 25th combined with water flowing from upstream, many newly sown rice fields in the province, especially in Hai Lang district, have been flooded. There is a risk of having to replant, increasing cultivation costs and reducing agricultural production efficiency.

Over 60 hectares of rice fields located outside the dike in Hai Truong commune, Hai Lang district, are deeply submerged in water - Photo: LA

The floodwaters have not yet been drained.

Standing and watching over 6 acres of newly sown rice, only about 3 days old, submerged in water, Mr. Vo Vinh from Dong Truong village, Hai Truong commune, Hai Lang district, sadly said that this summer-autumn crop season, his family planted more than 12 acres of rice with two main rice varieties: Khang Dan and HN57.

The entire area of ​​newly sown rice seedlings had germinated and was growing quite well, but the heavy rain combined with the rising river water overflowing the dike on the evening of May 25th submerged more than half of his rice crop, posing a high risk of rotting and dying.

All expenses, from land preparation, sowing, seeds, fertilizers, etc., are considered lost, with estimated damages of around 5 million VND. Currently, he can only wait for the water to recede so he can prepare the land again in time for planting the summer-autumn crop according to the seasonal schedule. However, if the water level in the river recedes slowly, it is expected that it will take another 2-3 days before he can pump out the floodwaters from the fields.

Meanwhile, in Hau Truong village, Mr. Le Van Trung said that his family owns 2 hectares of rice land, of which 1 hectare is within the dike system and 1 hectare is outside the dike system. To ensure a timely harvest before this year's rainy season, he has sown his rice early.

However, shortly after planting, a heavy rainstorm on the evening of May 25th washed away all the newly sown rice seeds from the area within the dike. The area outside the dike is now completely submerged. The estimated damage, including the cost of seeds and fertilizer alone, exceeds 15 million VND, not including the cost of land preparation and sowing.

“I’m currently waiting for the water to recede so I can prepare the land and sow again, but with the river water receding slowly and the electric pumping stations unable to operate at full capacity, it’s expected to take another 5-10 days to do so. Not only will it incur additional costs, but there’s also a risk of missing the planting season and facing the dangers of late-season natural disasters,” Mr. Trung said.

According to Truong Quang Minh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Truong commune, Hai Lang district, heavy rain fell in the commune from the evening of May 25th, causing the Ben Da River to rise. From 8:30 PM on May 25th to 4:00 AM on May 26th, the river water level rose by approximately 1.5 meters, overflowing the commune's dike. The heavy rain and rising river levels caused flooding in about 205 hectares of rice fields in the commune, including about 60 hectares outside the dike, with over 20 hectares already planted being deeply submerged.

On the night of May 25th, the People's Committee of the commune directed the cooperatives to mobilize forces and equipment to use sandbags to prevent water from the river from flooding the rice fields. By yesterday morning, May 26th, although the river water had begun to recede slowly, the pumping stations were unable to drain the floodwaters because the water level outside the dike was higher than in the drainage ditches.

"It is expected that the drainage work in the rice fields will be completed in the next 2-3 days. The newly sown rice seedlings are at risk of rotting and dying from flooding like this, requiring replanting which incurs additional costs and reduces agricultural production efficiency," Mr. Minh said.

According to Vo Chi Truong, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Environment Department of Hai Lang district, Hai Lang district has planted over 1,800 hectares of rice so far. However, the heavy rain on the evening of May 25th, combined with water flowing from upstream, has flooded over 281 hectares of newly sown rice and about 15 hectares of other crops in the district.

To save the rice crop, Hai Lang district directed local authorities to proactively develop drainage plans based on weather conditions and river water levels; and to mobilize all available electric and diesel pumps to drain floodwaters when conditions permit.

Proactively sow and plant the summer-autumn crop.

According to Mr. Truong, based on the province's seasonal planting schedule, the unit has guided localities to mobilize resources, prepare sufficient materials, proactively regulate water, and prepare the land appropriately for the summer-autumn crop planting according to the motto "Harvest first, plow later, work quickly to catch up with the season," with the spirit of implementing planting as quickly as possible. In particular, localities in low-lying areas are striving to complete sowing as early as May 30th to ensure harvesting before August 30th.

In higher-lying areas less prone to flooding and lacking reliable irrigation, sowing can be delayed, but harvesting must be completed before September 5th to avoid flooding during heavy rains. The agricultural sector recommends short-duration and ultra-short-duration rice varieties that are suitable for the area, have a stable market, and offer high economic efficiency.

The seeds used in production must meet the prescribed quality standards. Each cooperative focuses on cultivating 3-4 rice varieties suitable for the local area, selected from the province's recommended rice seed list, for intensive farming.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hong Phuong noted that, based on the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the weather will be complex from May to September 2025. Drawing on lessons learned from the winter-spring crop, localities are requested to organize land preparation and planting according to the issued seasonal schedule.

Accordingly, immediately after harvesting, it is necessary to promptly clean the fields and prepare the land early by plowing, drying the fields, treating with lime, and applying stubble decomposition products... to eliminate disease and pest sources and limit the occurrence and damage caused by dangerous pests in the summer-autumn crop such as white-backed planthopper, black striped dwarf disease, rice spider mite...

Prepare all necessary supplies such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Farmers are advised to use short-day and ultra-short-day rice varieties with a growth period of less than 95 days when sowing, and to use high-yielding, high-quality varieties; absolutely do not use long-day rice varieties, varieties susceptible to pests and diseases, or varieties not approved for circulation in the area; treat seeds before sowing to reduce seed-borne diseases and white-backed planthoppers that transmit black striped dwarf disease.

The planting season should be scheduled early, from May 20th to 25th, and completed no later than May 30th. Farmers are advised to prioritize the use of organic fertilizers, apply balanced fertilization, focus on base fertilization and early topdressing, regulate irrigation water economically and scientifically according to growth stages, and supplement with specialized foliar fertilizers... to help rice plants grow healthily and yield high productivity and quality.

At the same time, we request that the Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited and local authorities continue to closely monitor the weather situation to regulate water appropriately.

Le An

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/khan-truong-cuu-lua-moi-gieo-193926.htm