Ready for the 2025 spring rice crop.

For the 2025 spring rice crop, the entire province is expected to plant approximately 74,000 hectares. To ensure the conditions for a successful harvest, the agricultural sector and local authorities are currently focusing on directing the implementation of preparations for seeds, materials, land preparation, etc.

Farmers are focusing on plowing and turning over the land in preparation for the 2025 spring rice crop.

The spring rice crop is very important because its yield and quality are usually the highest of the year, helping farmers achieve high profits, and the timing of spring rice production directly affects the following rice crop. According to meteorological forecasts, the period from January 24th to February 4th, 2025, coincides with the period of extreme cold, which is the time of year with the highest frequency of severe cold spells. This period essentially coincides with the peak planting season for spring rice seedlings, causing difficulties in organizing, directing, and implementing production.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to ensure the conditions for a successful crop season, the agricultural sector and localities have focused on directing the implementation of preparations for seeds, materials, land preparation, irrigation, and water supply for flooding, etc., ready for production.

Creating conditions for land consolidation and accumulation; promoting the application and transfer of scientific and technological advancements and new technologies in plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides; and synchronously mechanizing all stages of the production process to reduce costs, improve productivity, quality, and product prices. At the same time, farmers are advised to use certified rice varieties or higher, with high-quality rice varieties accounting for approximately 50% of the total cultivated area, focusing on Dai Thom 8, Bac Thom No. 7, Huong Com 4, TBR279, and japonica rice varieties... High-yield rice varieties account for approximately 50% of the total cultivated area, including varieties such as TBR225, Thien Uu 8, VNR20, DH12, BQ... Expanding the area of rice sown and transplanted by machine to over 35,000 hectares, encouraging people to consolidate and concentrate land, plant at the same time and with the same variety, and apply mechanization to production to the maximum extent. This also allows for the production of large quantities of products, facilitating product distribution linkages and increasing production efficiency.

Mr. Pham Van Binh, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Hung Ha District, said: For the 2025 spring crop, Hung Ha District aims to plant 10,350 hectares, with high-yield rice varieties accounting for over 60% of the area. To ensure the planting season is implemented according to the schedule, the Department is coordinating with relevant units and localities, directing agricultural service cooperatives to develop land preparation plans, supply various materials, fertilizers, pesticides, and quality seeds to farmers. At the same time, they are reinforcing irrigation canals, improving internal irrigation systems, and strengthening pumping stations and culverts to meet production requirements; continuously monitoring weather developments to advise people to adhere to the planting schedule and develop irrigation and drainage plans to serve production.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, from Kha Dong village, Duyen Hai commune (Hung Ha district), said: "After harvesting 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of winter pumpkins, my family hired a plow to turn over the soil and let it dry to break the cycle of pests and diseases, help weeds decompose early, and prevent soil acidification. With guidance from the commune's agricultural service cooperative, I chose to plant the TBR225 variety and strictly followed the planting schedule, completing the sowing and transplanting before February 25th."

With the goal of ensuring the 2025 spring planting plan, the Nam Thai Binh Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has developed and implemented a specific water extraction plan for each locality and each irrigation system. This is an important preparatory step to meet the irrigation water needs for agricultural production, ensuring high yields and quality for the spring crop.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Thang, Deputy Director of the Company, said: "The concentrated irrigation period is from January 16th to February 15th, 2025. Therefore, the Company has reviewed and analyzed the water situation and existing infrastructure to develop a suitable water extraction plan for each area. The plan is divided into several phases, flexible according to the timing of water extraction from reservoirs and river systems. Localities in southern Thai Binh have been given specific guidance on the water extraction schedule, ensuring synchronization and uniformity in water resource utilization. To date, the Company has repaired 94 sluice gates through dikes, inland sluice gates, stations and pumps; reinforced irrigation canals and sluice gates, dredged canals, and cleared waterways to minimize water loss along the irrigation routes. In addition, the Company closely coordinates with units and localities to adjust the water extraction plan promptly when there are weather fluctuations or increased water demand." Coordinate the dissemination of information and guidance to farmers on the economical and scientific use of irrigation water.

With thorough preparation, flexible response plans, and the involvement of the entire political system, the province strives to achieve and surpass the set targets for the 2025 spring rice crop.