Farmers in Ha Tinh protect their summer-autumn rice crop during the "golden period".

(Baohatinh.vn) - Pest and disease outbreaks are becoming increasingly complex right during the summer-autumn rice flowering stage. At this time, farmers in Ha Tinh are actively working in their fields to implement control measures.

For the 2025 summer-autumn crop season, Ms. Phan Thi Hai Ly's family (Trung Thanh village, Duc Thinh commune) planted 2.5 acres of rice fields with main varieties such as BQ and Lai Thom 6. At this time, most of the area has entered the heading stage. Aware of the warning that the third generation of pests and diseases could cause significant damage at high densities, Ms. Ly has increased her time in the fields and proactively implemented control measures.

“From the end of June until now, we have sprayed twice to control pests and diseases such as leaf-rolling caterpillars, brown planthoppers, and bacterial blight. However, after monitoring, we still see the recurrence of fungal diseases and brown spots, so I decided to spray a third time. Currently, the rice plants are in the heading stage, and if we don't spray in time, there is a high risk of affecting yield and causing crop failure,” Ms. Ly shared.

Ms. Hai Ly intensified her efforts to spray pesticides on her 2.5 acres of rice fields during the summer-autumn crop season to control pests and diseases.

For the 2025 summer-autumn crop season, Duc Thinh commune will cultivate a total area of ​​2,314 hectares. Given the unprecedentedly complex pest and disease situation across the province and in the locality, the unit has coordinated with specialized agencies, Party committees, and village Party branches to implement various solutions and guide farmers in timely preventive measures.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen Luong, an officer from the Economic Department of the Duc Thinh Commune People's Committee, shared: “From mid-July, when the second generation of rice leaf rollers emerged and caused damage, Duc Thinh commune organized meetings to disseminate information related to the development of pests and diseases to the people; and coordinated with Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. to organize on-site training on rice leaf rollers. In the first two weeks of August, recognizing that the third generation of pests and diseases would continue to develop and cause damage, especially coinciding with the rice heading period, the locality organized training and awareness campaigns in 42 villages. To date, most of the summer-autumn rice area in the commune has been sprayed to control the third generation of pests and diseases, ensuring that the set schedule is met.”

In addition to increasing pest control spraying, local people are also paying special attention to the dosages recommended by agricultural experts.

In Cam Binh commune – one of the localities with a large area of ​​summer-autumn rice crops infected with leaf-rolling caterpillars and brown planthoppers (first and second generations) – people have been more proactive in controlling pests and diseases in the third generation. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau (Tam Dong village, Cam Binh commune) said: “The area and level of infection with pests and diseases such as brown planthoppers, bacterial blight, leaf-rolling caterpillars… this year is much higher than last year. We have sprayed many times but encountered heavy rain, reducing the effectiveness. To date, 4 acres of my family's rice fields have been sprayed for the fourth time, and we hope to control the pest and disease situation well.”

The heading and flowering stage of rice is often considered the "golden time" that determines the yield and quality of rice grains. Therefore, in addition to pest and disease control measures, farmers also focus on topdressing to enhance nutrient absorption, strengthen roots, increase grain weight, and reduce the percentage of empty grains.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Thinh (Group 6 - Dau Lieu, Nam Hong Linh Ward) shared: “After the third round of spraying to prevent brown planthoppers and leaf-rolling caterpillars, I proceeded to apply potassium fertilizer to help the rice grow and develop well. While in previous years I only applied fertilizer once or twice during the heading and panicle initiation stages, this year I applied it five times. Never before has the summer-autumn rice crop faced so many complex challenges as this year. However, under the guidance of agricultural experts, we have all focused on and followed the correct procedures.”

Mr. Thinh is applying potassium fertilizer to his summer-autumn rice crop, which is entering the heading stage.

According to statistics from the Department of Crop Production and Livestock, in the 2025 summer-autumn crop season, the entire province planted over 45,170 hectares of rice. Recognizing the complex situation of pests and diseases affecting the summer-autumn rice crop, the period from August 8th to August 20th was considered a peak period for mobilizing people in 69 communes/wards to implement emergency measures to ensure effective control and containment of pests and diseases, minimizing damage caused by pests and diseases.

The involvement of all levels of government, relevant agencies, and the people has contributed to minimizing the area of ​​summer-autumn rice crops infected with pests and diseases.

Ms. Ho Thi Thuy, Head of the Plant Protection Department ( Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Crop Production and Livestock), said: "By August 16th, thanks to the decisive involvement of all levels and sectors, and the proactive efforts of the people, the area of ​​summer-autumn rice affected by pests and diseases has shown a downward trend. Specifically, the area affected by leaf-rolling caterpillars is 3,200 hectares, brown planthoppers 213 hectares, and bacterial blight 3,200 hectares. All these pests have been sprayed and controlled. The specialized department is still assigning technical staff to closely monitor the fields, directly guide and handle any emerging situations and developments on-site, in order to ensure safety in the 2025 summer-autumn rice production."

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nong-dan-ha-tinh-bao-ve-lua-he-thu-thoi-diem-vang-post293806.html