The rice fields in Hamlet 3, Ba Sao Commune, Dong Thap Province are being harvested for the 2025 autumn-winter crop. Due to rain, some rice plants have been flattened - Photo: DANG TUYET
On September 15th, Tuoi Tre Online Observations at the rice fields of Hamlet 3, Ba Sao Commune, Dong Thap Province show farmers busily harvesting the 2025 autumn-winter rice crop. Last week, heavy rains hampered the harvesting process, and the low rice prices saddened farmers as their earnings were insufficient to cover production costs.
Mr. Bui Phuoc An is monitoring his family's rice harvest in Hamlet 3, Ba Sao Commune, Dong Thap Province - Photo: DANG TUYET
Sitting on the dike watching the rice harvester, Mr. Bui Phuoc An, a resident of Ba Sao commune, Dong Thap province, calculated that with low harvest yields and low rice prices, but high agricultural input costs, the revenue would not be enough to cover expenses.
"My family is cultivating about 5 hectares of rice, using the OM18 variety, which we sell to traders for 5,800 VND/kg. At this time last year, the price was over 8,000 VND/kg, but now it's about 2,000 VND/kg lower, and about 1,000 VND/kg lower than the previous summer-autumn crop."
Meanwhile, the prices of fertilizers and pesticides have increased significantly. For example, the price of each bag of fertilizer is about 200,000 VND higher than during the summer-autumn crop season. On average, the cost for 1 hectare of rice is about 40 million VND, but the yield is only about 6 tons. At a price of 5,800 VND, it can only be sold for nearly 35 million VND. I think the prices of fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural supplies, and rice are not very reasonable," Mr. An said.
After harvesting, the rice is weighed by traders right in the morning - Photo: DANG TUYET
Similarly, Mr. Tran Van Be Nho, from Hamlet 3, Ba Sao Commune, Dong Thap Province, said that he had just finished harvesting nearly 2 hectares of rice from the third crop a few days ago, the same OM18 variety, but the selling price was only 5,700 VND/kg.
"I invested little in fertilizer and pesticides, so the yield only reached 5 tons/ha. After selling the rice, I broke even because the investment costs had consumed all my money. This season was a total loss, but luckily I didn't fall into debt."
"In previous years, an average of 2 hectares of rice yielded a profit of 30-40 million VND per crop. There was only one crop where the rice price peaked at 10,000 VND/kg, resulting in a profit of 70-80 million VND. Since it's our land, we didn't suffer losses, but we lacked the funds for reinvestment in the next crop," Mr. Bé Nhỏ said.
Workers carry rice sacks and transfer them to boats - Photo: DANG TUYET
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap province, in the 2025 autumn-winter crop season, the entire province planted 115,500 hectares, with 35,600 hectares ripening, 3,500 hectares already harvested, and a yield of 6.3 tons/ha.
Rice prices recorded at the fields this week continued to decrease compared to the previous week, and are down more than 2,000 VND/kg compared to the same period last year. Specifically: IR50404 rice is priced at 5,600 VND/kg, down 300 VND/kg and down 2,200 VND/kg compared to the same period last year; Dai Thom 8 rice is priced at 6,150 VND/kg, down 50 VND/kg and down 2,450 VND/kg compared to the same period last year.
OM18 rice is priced at 5,800 VND/kg, down 150 VND compared to last week and down 2,600 VND compared to the same period last year; OM5451 rice is priced at 5,700 VND/kg, up 100 VND/kg and down 2,500 VND compared to the same period last year; glutinous rice is priced at 6,750 VND/kg, down 550 VND compared to last week and down 1,450 VND/kg compared to the same period last year.
During the rice harvest season, the entire field is bustling with buying and selling activity - Photo: DANG TUYET
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nong-dan-buon-rau-vi-gia-lua-thu-khong-du-bu-chi-phi-202509150857523.htm
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