The recent unseasonal rains only briefly eased the sweltering heat of the early summer days. Then the heat quickly returned, with outdoor temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius at times. Under the scorching sun, many people still had to continue their work and production for their livelihood.
The prolonged hot weather makes gardening even more difficult for farmers.
As the new day begins, Mr. Phan Chi Tam (from Vinh Hau commune) is already present in the salt fields. For salt farmers like him, the dry season is the most important production time of the year, so despite the sweltering weather, work never stops.
Walking along the embankments, he occasionally carried a hoe down to the salt fields to rake away the dust and standing water in the corners, helping the salt crystals to form evenly white and firm. It was only early morning, but the heat on the salt fields was already stifling, the air thick with the salty smell, making the already oppressive heat even more stifling.
Mr. Tam shared: "When it's hot and sunny, everyone wants to find a place to shelter, but we salt farmers actually look forward to the sun, because more sunshine means the salt crystallizes faster, bringing in harvest time sooner and providing more income to support our lives."
Mr. Phan Chí Tâm (from Vĩnh Hậu commune) checks the crystallization level of salt in the field.
Not only salt farmers , but also those who work as hired rice dryers are entering the busiest season of the year. At this time, the late-season winter-spring rice crop is being harvested in full swing. Every day, thousands of tons of rice are transported to drying yards, leading to a surge in demand for labor.
From early morning, Mrs. Tran Thi Thu (Vinh Thanh commune) and her group of five were busy with their work. From carrying rice, pouring it onto the yard, raking and turning it over, to gathering it into bags, every step was done manually under the sweltering heat that lasted from morning until evening.
“These past few days, we’ve had a lot of rice in the yard, so everyone is rushing to work from early morning. We have to turn the rice over every 20 minutes or so to ensure it dries evenly. The sun is blazing overhead, and the heat from the rice is stifling. The women have no choice but to cover their faces and wear wide-brimmed hats to protect themselves from the heat. It’s tough, but we still have to work to earn extra income,” Mrs. Thu shared.
For those who work drying rice for hire, sunshine is no longer an obstacle but a condition for making a living. Conversely, rain is what worries them the most, because even a sudden downpour can affect hundreds of tons of rice lying in the yard.
The group of rice dryers hired by Ms. Tran Thi Thu (Vinh Thanh commune) are busy working under the scorching early summer sun.
At the fish drying racks in Dong Hai commune, the atmosphere is equally bustling with activity. Under the intense early summer sun, Ms. Tran Thi Hao and her fellow workers toil continuously, turning each batch of fish to ensure they dry evenly and are ready for delivery to customers.
Wiping away the sweat from her sun-tanned face, Ms. Hao said: "Our work is mostly outdoors in the sun, which is quite strenuous and affects our health. Therefore, I always prepare drinking water, protective gear, and some basic medicines to prevent sunstroke and fatigue."
Ms. Tran Thi Hao (Dong Hai commune) is busy turning over each batch of dried fish so that they dry evenly in the sun, ready for delivery to customers.
Amidst the scorching early summer sun, laborers like Mr. Tam, Mrs. Thu, Ms. Hao, and thousands of others continue to silently eke out a living day after day. Every drop of sweat shed is not only a testament to their hard work but also a testament to their unwavering will and spirit of overcoming difficulties to maintain their livelihoods.
According to health experts, hot weather not only causes fatigue but also poses many health risks such as dehydration, exhaustion, heatstroke, and effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. If not treated promptly, this condition can lead to dangerous complications.
Therefore, outdoor workers should limit their work during peak sunlight hours from 11 am to 3 pm; drink water frequently, even when not thirsty; replenish electrolytes when sweating profusely; wear loose, light-colored clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and take appropriate breaks. In particular, stop working immediately if symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, or lightheadedness appear to avoid the risk of heatstroke.
Source: https://sonnmt.camau.gov.vn/phat-trien-nong-thon/muu-sinh-giua-cai-nong-dau-he-299167
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