Outstanding productivity
This year's winter-spring rice crop is considered a bumper harvest by farmers in the province. Ms. Dinh Thi Mung (Phuc Son village, Ninh Tien commune, Hoa Lu city) happily shared: “Last year, heavy rains and storms battered the fields, making farming difficult and resulting in low yields. This year, however, we've had favorable weather, fewer pests and diseases, and fewer rats. The rice plants are healthy, with strong tillering, large panicles, and plump grains. The yield is significantly higher than last year; my family planted a fragrant rice variety and estimates we'll get over 2 quintals per sao (approximately 200 kg per 1000 square meters).”
Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thong (Xuan Duong 2 village, Khanh Cu commune, Yen Khanh district) said: “In decades of farming, I have never seen the rice crop as good and uniform as this year. Everyone's fields are full of grain. There are few pests and diseases; from the beginning to the end of the season, we only sprayed once with fungicide to control rice blast, so the costs have been reduced. This season is much more promising than last year.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Van Nghia, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Khanh Cu Cooperative (Yen Khanh district), informed: Last year's winter-spring crop yielded an average of only 1.7 quintals/sao, but this year it has risen to 2.3 quintals/sao, an increase of 0.6 quintals/sao.
According to information from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the entire province will plant 39,393 hectares of rice during the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring crop season. Of this, hybrid rice accounts for over 7,410 hectares, or 18.81%, while the remaining over 81% consists of high-quality, purebred rice varieties such as: Dai Thom 8, Bac Thom No. 7 (resistant to bacterial blight), VNR20, Huong Binh, Nep Huong, TBR225 QR1, TH998, Nep...
At this time, farmers in the province are focusing on harvesting. Generally, all rice varieties in this year's winter-spring crop have grown and developed well, achieving high yields with a superior percentage of plump grains. The estimated yield for the entire province is 66.97 quintals/hectare (0.07 quintals/hectare higher than last year's winter-spring crop). This is an impressive figure, especially considering that high-quality rice accounts for nearly 80% of the crop.
Analyzing the reasons for this year's high rice yield, Mr. La Quoc Tuan, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, stated: The high yield of the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring rice crop is due to a combination of factors. Firstly, the rice fields were prepared, and the weather at the beginning of the season was relatively favorable for concentrated and quick planting. Although the subsequent prolonged cloudy weather, low sunshine hours, little rainfall, and low temperatures accompanied by cold fronts slowed rice growth, this actually encouraged farmers to pay more attention to cultivation. The extended growth period, coupled with meticulous care, allowed the rice plants more time to accumulate biomass, resulting in larger panicles, plump grains, and bright kernels at the end of the season. Furthermore, the weather at the end of the season had alternating sunshine and rain, with less intense heat than previous seasons, making panicle formation, flowering, and pollination more favorable.
Furthermore, a crucial factor contributing to the success of this crop season was the proactive and timely implementation of pest and disease control measures. Specialized agencies closely monitored the fields, regularly updated farmers on pest and disease situations, advised them on appropriate care methods, and effectively controlled major pests and diseases.
In addition, the application of new rice varieties with high yields and good pest and disease resistance also contributed significantly to the success of this production season.
The joy is incomplete.
Despite a bountiful harvest, the joy of the farmers is not complete due to the sharp drop in rice prices. Mr. Bui Thanh Quang, a farmer specializing in fragrant rice cultivation in Hoa Lu city, lamented: “Last year, the price of fresh fragrant rice sold at the field was 9,000 VND/kg. But this year, traders are only offering 6,000 VND/kg, a decrease of over 30%. With such a good harvest and such low prices, the profit is negligible.” The impact of falling rice prices is even more evident for large-scale farmers.
Mr. Trinh Viet Chien, a pioneering farmer in land consolidation and commercial rice production on approximately 300 acres in Ninh Khang commune, Hoa Lu city, shared: “For ordinary farmers who cultivate 5-7 acres of rice to have enough to eat and a little extra to sell, fluctuations in rice prices don't significantly affect their lives. But for us, large-scale rice producers with hundreds of tons of rice per season, a decrease of 3,000 VND/kg (from 9,000 VND to 6,000 VND) means that hundreds of millions of VND have been lost compared to our expectations. Profits have decreased drastically, greatly impacting our plans for reinvestment and production development.”
In fact, the drop in rice prices during harvest season is not a new story, especially in bumper crops. However, the sharp drop in rice prices this season is unusual, causing many farmers to regret the loss of significant profits. The main reason for the drop in rice prices is attributed to India easing its rice export restrictions after two years of strict control. This has increased supply on the international market, creating competitive pressure for other exporting countries, including Vietnam.
Furthermore, demand for rice imports from major markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia is also declining, as these countries have accumulated sufficient reserves in 2024 and are waiting for further price reductions before re-importing. The issue of rice prices poses a significant problem for agricultural production as the 2025 harvest season approaches.
To address the volatile rice prices, the key issue now is to promote mechanization and the synchronized application of scientific and technological advancements to reduce production costs while simultaneously improving productivity and product quality. In particular, special attention should be paid to the synchronized application of advanced farming techniques such as: the "3 reductions, 3 increases" model (reducing seed sowing, reducing nitrogen fertilizer use, reducing pesticides; increasing yield, improving rice quality, and increasing economic efficiency), the "1 must, 5 reductions" model (must use certified seeds; reduce seed sowing, reduce nitrogen fertilizer use, reduce pesticides, reduce irrigation water, and reduce post-harvest losses), and integrated pest management (IPM)...
These solutions not only help reduce input costs but also contribute to environmental protection and enhance the sustainability of production. At the same time, increased close cooperation between farmers, cooperatives, and businesses is needed to establish product purchase contracts. This will help minimize price risks for farmers, ensure stable output, and create a foundation for farmers to confidently invest and produce in the long term.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/nong-dan-don-vu-lua-dong-xuan-boi-thu-411394.htm
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