A vibrant atmosphere of production at the beginning of spring.

Việt Nam•19/02/2024

After the warm and joyful days of the traditional Lunar New Year, on the first day of the new spring, farmers, salt producers, and fishermen in localities throughout the province simultaneously launched their production activities with great enthusiasm. The warm spring weather helped crops grow lush and green, bringing hope for a bountiful harvest.

In Thuan Bac district, on the large rice fields covering nearly 300 hectares in the communes of Bac Phong, Bac Son, Loi Hai, etc., from early morning on the 3rd day of Tet (Lunar New Year), farmers were busy with work, some replanting rice seedlings, others fertilizing and spraying pesticides. Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, from Ba Thap village, Bac Phong commune, shared: "For the 2023-2024 winter-spring rice crop, households used certified seeds and sowed simultaneously, and it's been almost a month now. My family cultivates 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares), and this is the time when the rice is developing its stems and leaves. I dedicate time to caring for it, checking the situation, and thinning out areas that are too dense or too sparse to ensure the rice grows evenly and avoid affecting the yield."

Farmers in Thuan Bac district head to the fields to tend to their winter-spring crops. Photo: H. Lam

On the converted fields, the atmosphere is bustling with farmers tending to their crops. This year's winter-spring crop season in Thuan Bac district saw the conversion of 44.2 hectares of land, mainly vegetables and fodder crops. Mr. Nguyen Huy, from An Dat village, Loi Hai commune, said: "My family cultivates 2 sao (approximately 0.2 hectares) of chili peppers and 1.5 sao (approximately 0.1 hectares) of watermelons. The chili peppers have been harvested, and the watermelons are ready for harvest. Although I'm enjoying Tet (Lunar New Year), I haven't forgotten my duties of weeding, watering to maintain moisture, and fertilizing the crops."

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thuan Bac district, this year the water levels in reservoirs in the area are relatively stable, and the entire district planted 3,657 hectares of various crops during the winter-spring season. With the goal of improving production efficiency, the district has directed the implementation of many technical solutions such as: organizing training and guiding people to apply the "1 must, 5 reductions" and "3 reductions, 3 increases" techniques; recommending the use of certified seeds or higher-grade seeds, and short-day varieties with good pest and disease resistance.

Along with farmers in other localities of the province, at the beginning of the new spring, farmers in Bac Ai district enthusiastically went to the fields to care for their crops, carrying with them the hope of a year of "favorable weather and a bountiful harvest." Visiting the large rice fields in Phuoc Chinh commune, we observed a very lively atmosphere of labor among the local farmers. Mr. Kator Linh from Nui Ray village happily said: "The weather is favorable, the water in the reservoirs is abundant, and after harvesting the rice crop with the joy of good prices, the farmers are taking advantage of the time to plow the land and sow the winter-spring crop in time. Currently, the farmers are focusing on caring for the rice and other crops with the hope of a bountiful harvest."

In the rice, cassava, and vegetable fields of the communes of Phuoc Dai, Phuoc Thang, Phuoc Tien, Phuoc Hoa, etc., the atmosphere of labor is bustling, and everyone is cheerful and enthusiastic. Ms. Chamaléa Thi Lam from Suoi Da village, Phuoc Tien commune, happily said: "Last cassava season, my family harvested more than 10 tons of cassava, earning a profit of over 12 million VND, so we had the means to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) warmly. At the beginning of the new spring, my family is focusing on taking care of the cassava crop for the new season with the hope of achieving high yields and selling prices." For the 2023-2024 winter-spring season, Bac Ai district planted 1,800 hectares of various crops; including 760 hectares of rice and 1,040 hectares of vegetables. Thanks to favorable weather, the crops are developing well.

Farmers in Phuoc Hoa commune (Bac Ai district) tend to their green pomelo orchards. Photo: Kha Han

On the first day of the new spring, farmers in Ninh Son district simultaneously went to the fields to work with a joyful spirit. From early morning on the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), taking advantage of the favorable weather, farmers in Phu Thuy village, My Son commune, actively went to the fields to check on their rice paddies, following the water flow amidst laughter and greetings for the new year. Excited by the previous rice harvest being bountiful and fetching good prices, Ms. Pham Thi Sen expanded her rice cultivation area this winter-spring season. Ms. Sen shared: "My family cultivates 6 sao (approximately 0.6 hectares) of rice. After the Tet holiday, we actively cared for the rice plants hoping for a bountiful harvest." In Nhon Son commune, apple farmers were also busily harvesting apples to sell to traders. Mr. Pham Tan Dat, from Luong Cang village, excitedly said: "Apples are being bought by traders at 10,000-15,000 VND/kg. On the first day of the new spring, I harvested 500 kg of apples and sold them at the orchard, earning 7.5 million VND."

Farmers in Nhon Son commune (Ninh Son district) harvest apples. Photo: Kim Thuy

In Thuan Nam district, on the industrial salt fields in Quan The village, Phuoc Minh commune, the atmosphere of early spring work is also very lively. Dozens of workers from Ca Na Ninh Thuan Salt Joint Stock Company are diligently working, their voices interspersed with cheerful conversations. Ms. Kim Lien shared: After the Lunar New Year holiday, the company's workers have returned to work. People get used to their jobs, and after a long break, they miss their "work" and want to go back to work soon. The warm, sunny weather of early spring encourages everyone to go down to the fields to harvest salt. Salt farmer Tran Van Chau from Quan The 1 village said: The warm, sunny weather of early spring makes the salt crystals white, and the stable price of salt motivates salt farmers to work diligently.

Workers at Ca Na Ninh Thuan Salt Joint Stock Company (Thuan Nam district) are engaged in production at the beginning of spring. Photo: Anh Thi

At the beginning of the new year, fishermen in coastal communes have also set out to sea to fish. After the opening ceremony of the sea on the 3rd day of Tet, fishermen from two communes held a ceremony to depart for fishing. Mr. Nguyen Van Phat from Lac Tan 1 village, Phuoc Diem commune, shared: "The people hope for favorable weather at the beginning of the year, for the fishermen to go out to sea safely, and to catch a lot of seafood."

From the morning of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), fishermen in Ninh Hai district set out for their first fishing trip of the year. At My Tan and Ninh Chu fishing ports, fishermen busily prepared essential supplies, fuel, and ice to head out to sea for fishing. According to Mr. Nguyen Tan Tu, a fishing boat owner in Khanh Hai town, "For fishermen, the first fishing trip of the year is the most important, determining the effectiveness of the entire year's catch. Although it's a time for celebrating Tet, on the morning of the third day of Tet, I and 16 crew members checked the boat's equipment and prepared the necessary supplies to 'start the new year' at sea'."

Fishermen in Ninh Hai district achieved high seafood yields during the early spring season. Photo: T. Thinh

Mr. Nguyen Tran Minh, the owner of a fishing boat in Khanh Hoi village, Tri Hai commune, said: "At the beginning of the new year, the prices of seafood are high, and fishermen are confident that their first fishing trip of the year will be successful. The crew members on the boat don't forget to bring banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and pickled onions, bringing the flavors of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) onto the boat to the sea, adding warmth to the first days of fishing in the new year. They hope for favorable weather and a large school of fish, so that the fishermen can catch a heavy haul and fill their holds."

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