Farmers are worried about pests and diseases in their summer-autumn rice crop.

Farmers in Long Dat district spray pesticides to control pests and diseases in their rice crops.

As the largest rice-growing area in the province, Long Dat district has planted over 4,000 hectares of rice during the Summer-Autumn crop season, in accordance with the schedule set by the agricultural sector. The main rice varieties used this season are high-quality, disease-resistant varieties with short growing periods such as OM 6162, OM 5451, OM 4900, and sticky rice varieties. However, in newly sown rice fields, heavy rains have washed away and damaged the rice plants, forcing farmers to replant a second time, significantly increasing costs, averaging 1-2 million VND per hectare.

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Boi, from the An Nhut Agricultural and Service Cooperative in Tam An commune, said that 1.5 hectares of newly planted rice were washed away and damaged by thunderstorms. “The summer-autumn rice crop was planted when it started raining. At that time, the rice was still young and weak, its roots hadn't yet taken hold in the soil, and the continuous rain made it susceptible to damage and washing away. With the damaged rice fields, farmers are forced to replant, increasing investment costs,” Mr. Boi said.

Similarly, Mr. Bui Van Thu from Tam An commune also stated that due to erratic rainfall, the rice planting density in this summer-autumn crop was not satisfactory, with some areas too dense and others too sparse. The reason is that the rain caused the sown rice seeds to float and drift away in clumps, preventing them from germinating and resulting in a 30% reduction in yield. Farmers were forced to replant the area where the rice was washed away, increasing costs by approximately 1 million VND per hectare,” Mr. Thu said.

Not only newly sown rice is affected by the weather, but rice fields sown more than a month ago are also facing the risk of pests and diseases. In the rice fields of Phuoc Long Tho commune, Long Dat district, although the rice has rooted and is growing well, the erratic weather, alternating rain and sunshine, and sudden temperature changes have led to the outbreak of pests and diseases. Therefore, farmers are intensifying spraying to prevent diseases in their rice plants.

According to forecasts from the agriculture and environment sector, farmers will face many difficulties this summer-autumn crop season due to erratic weather patterns and pest infestations. To ensure a successful summer-autumn crop, the agriculture and environment sector recommends that farmers apply advanced rice cultivation processes, use biological products to control brown planthoppers; and closely monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions and brown planthopper migration to ensure efficient summer-autumn production.

Text and photos: SONG BINH

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/kinh-te/202506/nong-dan-lo-ngai-sau-benh-vu-lua-he-thu-1045680/