Farmers worry about pests and diseases in summer-autumn rice crop

The entire province has completed planting the 2025 Summer-Autumn rice crop with an area of about 8,700 hectares. Due to production during the rainy season, the weather is erratic, and the risk of disease attacks is high.

Farmers in Long Dat district spray pesticides on rice plants.

As the largest rice growing area in the province, Long Dat district has planted more than 4,000 hectares of rice in the Summer-Autumn crop according to the schedule set by the agricultural sector. The rice varieties used in this crop are mainly high-quality, disease-resistant and short-growing varieties such as OM 6162, OM 5451, OM 4900, and Dui Bau... However, in newly sown rice fields, heavy rain causes the rice to be washed away and damaged, forcing farmers to replant the crop a second time, causing costs to increase significantly, averaging 1-2 million VND/ha.

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Boi, An Nhut Agricultural - Service Cooperative, Tam An Commune, said that 1.5 hectares of newly planted rice were washed away and damaged by thunderstorms. “When we first planted the Summer-Autumn rice, it rained, while at the time of sowing, the rice was still young and weak, the roots had not yet attached to the soil, and it rained continuously, so it was easily damaged and washed away. With the damaged and washed away rice areas, farmers were forced to re-sow, causing investment costs to increase accordingly,” said Mr. Boi.

Similarly, Mr. Bui Van Thu, Tam An commune also said that due to erratic rain, the density of rice plants in this summer-autumn crop was not up to standard, some places were too dense, some places were too sparse. The reason was that the rain caused the rice seeds to float and form clusters that could not grow, causing a 30% decrease in yield. The area of rice that was washed away forced farmers to replant, causing costs to increase by about 1 million VND/ha," said Mr. Thu.

Not only newly sown rice is affected by the weather, but rice fields that have been sown for more than a month are also facing the risk of pests and diseases. In the rice fields in Phuoc Long Tho commune, Long Dat district, it is shown that although the rice has taken root and grown well, due to the influence of erratic weather, alternating rain and sunshine, and sudden temperature changes, pests and diseases have arisen. Therefore, farmers are increasing the spraying of rice plants to prevent diseases.

According to the forecast of the agriculture and environment sector, this year's summer-autumn crop farmers will face many difficulties due to erratic weather and harmful pests. To ensure the success of the summer-autumn crop, the agriculture and environment sector recommends that farmers apply advanced rice cultivation processes, apply biological products to prevent brown planthoppers; at the same time, closely monitor the hydrometeorological situation and brown planthopper migration to produce an effective summer-autumn crop.

Article and photos: SONG BINH

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