During harvest season, jobs increase.

In recent days, traveling through the fields of the province, one can see farmers busily harvesting the winter-spring rice crop. At this time, many related jobs in the countryside are bustling, providing workers with additional income.

In the afternoon in Thanh Hung commune, amidst the golden ripe rice paddies, gusts of wind create waves of rice stalks, like a vast carpet. The sound of combine harvesters roars, running steadily in straight lines, leaving behind neatly arranged rows of straw. The scent of freshly harvested rice wafts everywhere, the bustling atmosphere of the harvest season creating a picture of a prosperous countryside. Along the edges of the fields, people work swiftly, pulling and carrying rice, their shirts soaked with sweat, yet their laughter and conversation remain lively.

Combine harvester operators at work during the peak of the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop season. Photo: BICH THUY

Along the canal bank, a makeshift rice scale sits on the shore. Each time two sacks of rice are placed on it, the weigher clearly announces the weight. This sound, combined with the noise of machines and waiting trucks, creates a familiar rhythm of the harvest season, echoing across the fields.

In that space, Mr. Nguyen Van Vu (58 years old), residing in Thanh Loc hamlet, Thanh Dong commune, is still attentively operating his combine harvester, steadily moving across the field. Having been involved in this profession for over 10 years, starting with just one machine to make a living, he has now invested in three machines, traveling throughout the fields within and outside the locality during the harvest season.

The loud engine noise made conversation difficult. Only after finishing a rice field did Mr. Vu wipe away his sweat and share that this job is not just a livelihood but also a passion. Sometimes, fuel and spare parts costs rise, rice prices are low, and farmers face difficulties, so they consider giving up. But every season, they can't sit still and want to go back to the fields to operate the machines in the ripening rice paddies.

Mr. Vu said that a combine harvester can harvest an average of 15-20 acres per day. Throughout the season, each machine harvests about 1,700-1,800 acres, at a price of 300,000-320,000 VND per acre depending on the time of year. After deducting expenses, the profit is about 40,000-50,000 VND per acre. He works three seasons a year, with the winter-spring season starting around January 12th and lasting for over a month. During peak season, he moves his combine harvester across many localities such as Can Tho City and the communes of Thanh Hung, Thanh Loc, Thanh Dong, etc., to keep up with the harvest schedule.

Besides combine harvester operators, the rice fields also have seasonal workers such as hired rice porters. Huynh Thanh Tung (37 years old), residing in Thanh Dong hamlet, Thanh Hung commune, said his rice porter group has 26 members. During the harvest season, the entire group works continuously for about a month, divided into groups of 4-5 people responsible for each rice paddy. “The work is hard, but it provides a stable income during the season, averaging 500,000-600,000 VND per day per person,” Tung said. Nguyen Van Kiet (38 years old), residing in Binh Hoa commune, also works in this profession, sharing that he earns about 500,000 VND per day. His main job is carrying rice from the fields to the banks, loading it onto trucks, or transporting it to weighing stations, providing him with additional income to support his family.

Along the rural roads, trucks carrying rice operate continuously, one after another, from the fields to homes or collection points. From harvesters and rice carriers to transporters, everyone forms a harmonious labor chain, ensuring a timely harvest.

Seasonal occupations in rice fields are not limited to one locality but have become common in many rural areas of the province. Despite their seasonal nature, these activities contribute to job creation and income generation for many workers, especially those with surplus labor. They also help ensure timely harvesting, reduce losses, and improve agricultural production efficiency.

BICH THUY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mua-gat-viec-lam-tang-a480657.html