Focus on harvesting the spring rice crop.

The rice is harvested as soon as it ripens.

At this time, the main rice crop is ripening, and in some localities that planted early, such as Son Duong, Chiem Hoa, and Lam Binh, the rice has ripened. People are taking advantage of sunny days to urgently harvest the ripe rice, minimizing losses should natural disasters occur.

People in Yen Nguyen commune (Chiem Hoa district) are harvesting the spring rice crop.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dau, from Goc Lat village, Chi Thiet commune (Son Duong district), shared that the thunderstorms at the end of April and beginning of May greatly affected the village's rice crop, including his family's. According to Mr. Dau, his family planted over 2 acres of rice this spring. The thunderstorm on April 30th caused many fields to flatten, and to minimize losses, he had to prop them up. Fortunately, the sun came out as soon as the rain stopped, and the rice ripened quickly. As soon as the rice ripened, his family hired a harvesting machine. For areas where the machine couldn't be used, they exchanged labor and harvested by hand. After three consecutive days of intensive harvesting, over 2 acres of rice were harvested. Although this year's harvest was somewhat arduous, the yield was still guaranteed, estimated at about 2-2.2 quintals per sao (approximately 200-220 kg per 1000 square meters), slightly higher than the 2023 spring crop, Mr. Dau happily shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, an agricultural extension officer at the Son Duong District Agricultural Service Center, in charge of the commune, Chi Thiet commune planted 150 hectares of rice in the spring of 2024, exceeding the plan by 10%. The thunderstorms at the end of April and beginning of May caused many rice fields to be flattened and flooded. To protect rice yield and production, the unit coordinated with the commune to urge people to clear waterways and drainage canals; reinforce flattened areas; and regularly monitor the fields, harvesting rice as soon as it ripens to minimize losses caused by natural disasters. To date, 85% of Chi Thiet commune's spring rice crop has been harvested, with an estimated yield of 61 quintals/hectare, slightly higher than the spring crop of 2023.

In Hung My, Tan Thinh, Yen Nguyen, Hoa Phu (Chiem Hoa district); and Tho Binh (Lam Binh district), the spring rice harvest is quite bustling. Fields of rice, heavy with grain and still green, are being harvested urgently by the people. This spring, Hung My commune (Chiem Hoa district) planted over 150 hectares of rice. According to local residents, the rice has few pests and diseases, with only localized damage in some areas. Based on the commune's inspection and assessment, the average yield for the entire commune is estimated at 62 quintals/hectare. Many households in the commune have proactively used combine harvesters to harvest their rice, ensuring the progress of the harvest season.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, this year's spring rice crop will yield more than usual throughout the province, due to relatively favorable water resources, healthy rice plant growth, even flowering, and firm panicles. Only a small area has been affected by lodging, causing difficulties in harvesting.

Unable to rent harvesting machines, people in Cay Lat village, Chi Thiet commune (Son Duong district) are using grass-cutting machines to harvest rice, speeding up the harvesting process and minimizing losses in case of rain.

Preparing for crop production

Alongside the main rice harvest, the Department of Agriculture has urged localities to encourage farmers to regularly inspect their fields, monitor late-season rice crops, and prevent and control pests and diseases to protect rice yield and production. According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, Head of the Technical Department of the Provincial Crop Production and Plant Protection Sub-Department, approximately 7,000-8,000 hectares of late-season rice are currently heading and flowering. Farmers need to regularly inspect their fields, maintain water levels to ensure sufficient water for the rice plants, and minimize the impact of hot weather. They should also closely monitor weather conditions and pest and disease outbreaks in the fields, following forecasts from specialized agencies to direct timely control measures and prevent widespread pest and disease spread. Pay attention to pests and diseases affecting rice crops such as: rice blast, bacterial leaf blight, brown planthopper, white-backed planthopper, etc. In addition, strictly follow the requirements of the agricultural sector, harvesting rice as soon as it ripens, because this year's weather is very complicated, with continuous thunderstorms, and the risk of losses is very high.

Focusing on harvesting the spring rice crop, localities are also urging people to quickly prepare the land and ensure sufficient fertilizers and supplies for the summer crop, especially in areas with a tradition of growing a third crop.

Agricultural engineers recommend that because the time between the spring and autumn crops is short, farmers should prepare the land thoroughly, especially in flooded areas, to eliminate pests and diseases. Based on the characteristics and production conditions of each locality, farmers should apply appropriate sowing and transplanting techniques to suit the soil type and select rice varieties from the province's crop structure. In areas where wild rice (also known as weed rice) has appeared, such as Yen Son and Son Duong, farmers should switch from direct sowing to transplanting to effectively control and eradicate the weed. For single-crop rice fields without reliable irrigation, farmers should switch to other crops.

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