Joy during the rice harvest season

From the beginning of May, the atmosphere of harvesting the winter-spring crop across the rice fields of Dong Nai city has become more vibrant. The sound of harvesting machines blends with the laughter and chatter of farmers echoing across the fields, signaling a bountiful rice harvest.

Báo Đồng Nai•22/05/2026

The rice fields of Bau Kien Agricultural Service Cooperative (Thanh Son commune, Dong Nai city) are laden with grain during harvest season. Photo: Le Trung

On the golden rice fields, each grain, heavy with grain, seems to gather hope for a bountiful harvest. At the same time, it opens up prospects for a sustainable path towards clean and organic agriculture in the locality.

Rice harvest season

In mid-May, we had the opportunity to visit the rice fields of the Bau Kien Agricultural Service Cooperative in Thanh Son commune, Dong Nai city. From early morning, the entire field was bustling with the sounds of combine harvesters running one after another across the golden rice paddies. Under the scorching sun, the rice stalks, heavy with grain, stretched to the horizon, creating a peaceful and prosperous scene of the countryside during harvest season.

The sound of combine harvesters mingled with the laughter and chatter of the villagers, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the countryside. Each cartload of harvested rice brought with it the joy of a bountiful harvest. Many farmers stood by the edge of their fields, their eyes shining with happiness as they gazed at the fruits of their labor after months of hard work.

Rice fields in Xuan Phu commune are ripening during the winter-spring harvest season. Photo: C.T.V.

The rice fields in Xuan Phu commune are ripening as the winter-spring harvest season approaches. Photo: Contributor.

Amidst the golden rice fields, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Director of Bau Kien Agricultural Service Cooperative, closely monitors each harvesting machine in operation. Having been involved with rice cultivation for over 30 years, this farmer cannot hide his joy at witnessing the heavy, grain-laden rice stalks being harvested. His eyes gleam with happiness, and a smile is always present on his sun-tanned face. According to Mr. Hung, with favorable weather conditions and the application of clean farming methods, the yield this season is expected to reach approximately 7-8 tons per hectare.

Mr. Hung recounted that in the early days of his clean rice farming venture, he faced many difficulties. At that time, due to the lack of supportive policies, people were still accustomed to using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, driven by the desire to produce safe rice for his family and consumers, he boldly invested his own funds to experiment with different soil types, find suitable rice varieties, and learn more about clean farming techniques.

"Organic farming is harder but much safer. First and foremost, it's good for my own health, and then for consumers. Organic rice farming may not achieve 100% of our goals, but it's much safer and will yield long-term results," Mr. Hung shared.

Recognizing the positive effects of the organic rice farming model, he began encouraging his neighbors to participate. From just a few small plots of land initially, the area of clean, organic rice cultivated by Bau Kien Cooperative has now expanded to approximately 40 hectares. Not only has the model improved the quality of rice grains, but it has also gradually changed the mindset of the people regarding production, moving towards sustainable agriculture.

According to him, what people want most right now is a stable market for clean, organic rice. If there is a good market and suitable prices, farmers will be more confident in switching to organic rice.

Not only the Bau Kien Cooperative, but many farmers in the rice-producing areas of Dong Nai city are delighted this year because the winter-spring crop has yielded high productivity. Standing beside his recently harvested rice field, Mr. Tran Van Tron (60 years old, from Phu Vinh commune) could not hide his joy. His family currently cultivates more than 10 hectares of rice, all using mechanization.

“This year's harvest is bountiful, so everyone is happy. Each hectare yields 7-9 tons of rice. Now, with machinery, it's much less strenuous than in the past. From plowing and sowing to harvesting, machines assist in all aspects, reducing costs and minimizing health risks,” said Mr. Tron.

According to him, this year the weather has been quite favorable, and the water supply is abundant thanks to the efficient irrigation system, so the rice plants have developed well. Although rice prices have fluctuated at times, overall, people still have a stable income after this winter-spring rice crop.

“The irrigation system is working well, so there is enough water in the fields, and the farmers are very confident in their production. We only hope that in the future, the organic rice farming model will be expanded, and that the authorities will provide technical support and connect products so that people have the opportunity to grow clean rice,” Mr. Tron expressed.

As evening falls, the last rays of sunlight cast a golden glow on the recently harvested rice paddies. For farmers, perhaps the greatest joy is the moment they see the sacks of rice, full to the brim, being brought home after a hard season of tending their fields.

Towards organic farming

Besides bringing the joy of a bountiful harvest, this year's winter-spring crop also shows positive changes in the direction of developing clean agriculture in many localities of Dong Nai city.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Son commune, the entire commune currently has about 500 hectares of rice fields, with a high concentration in Hamlet 8, accounting for approximately 200 hectares. About 80% of the local people live by agriculture. Each year, the people produce three rice crops with an average yield of 6-8 tons/ha.

"The locality is focusing on developing organic and clean rice production to improve product quality. In particular, the rice fields of Bau Kien Cooperative are a typical model being developed into an OCOP (One Commune One Product) product," Mr. Cuong said.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, in the coming time, the locality will continue to work alongside the people, coordinating with specialized units to provide technical support, transfer science and technology , and gradually connect markets for products. This will help increase rice productivity and enable farmers to apply better techniques in cultivation for each season.

To ensure high rice yields this year, many localities have also invested in irrigation systems, helping people proactively secure water for production. Continuous water flow through the irrigation canals has helped maintain stable soil moisture throughout the growing season, minimizing the impact of weather conditions.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Quan, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Phu Vinh commune, said: Rice production remains the main economic sector of the locality. Currently, the average yield is about 7-9 tons/ha, providing a stable income for the people.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Quan, in addition to supporting irrigation and ensuring water supply, the Farmers' Association and specialized departments also regularly organize training for people on pest and disease control, the use of organic fertilizers, and the application of scientific and technical advancements in production.

"We aim to build a clean rice production area and establish consumption linkages to enhance product value. In the future, the locality will continue to establish cooperatives and supply chains to stabilize the supply of quality raw materials and ensure market outlets for farmers," Mr. Quan said.

Despite the unpredictable weather in recent years, the rice fields remain laden with grain, stretching out like a giant, golden silk cloth. This shows that farmers in Dong Nai today have changed their mindset, applying technology and moving towards safe and sustainable agriculture. Amidst the fragrant rice harvests, the belief in a green and modern agricultural system is being nurtured day by day on the very fields of their homeland.

To Tam

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202605/niem-vui-trong-mua-lua-chin-5d23e0a/