Reducing costs to ensure a successful summer-autumn rice crop.

Many localities in Can Tho City have begun the 2026 summer-autumn rice crop. At this time, the prices of many input materials are increasing; hot weather and saline intrusion threaten production, creating unfavorable conditions and leading to higher costs compared to the winter-spring crop. To ensure a profitable summer-autumn rice crop, farmers are actively implementing cost-saving measures and proactively controlling pests and diseases.

Farmers in many rice-producing fields use electric pumping stations to pump water collectively in order to reduce costs. In the photo: An electric pumping station in Thanh Quoi commune, Can Tho city.

Facing many difficulties

Summer-autumn rice production coincides with the peak months of hot weather, forcing farmers to incur additional costs for pumping water. Unfavorable weather conditions also increase the risk of weed outbreaks and various pests and diseases. Furthermore, since the beginning of March, the rising prices of gasoline, fertilizers, and many other supplies have put farmers in a difficult position as they enter the summer-autumn season. Nevertheless, many farmers remain determined to maintain rice production, proactively implementing various solutions to ensure a successful harvest.

Mr. Dao Vinh from Thoi Lai commune, Can Tho city, said: “If I abandoned the crop, I wouldn't know what to do to earn income, so I decided to cultivate summer-autumn rice. This season, I sowed OM 18 rice variety, which is 30 days old and growing well. To reduce costs, I applied the technical advancements recommended by the Department of Agriculture . Using certified seeds and sparse sowing helps the rice plants grow healthily, reduces pests and diseases, and minimizes the use of fertilizers and pesticides.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong in Hamlet 2, Vi Thanh 1 Commune, Can Tho City, to reduce costs for this summer-autumn crop, he and many local households have chosen to delay rice planting to avoid the current hot weather. Although the winter-spring rice crop has been harvested, farmers plan to sow rice at the end of February (lunar calendar), and they are also cooperating to collectively pump water to reduce costs. Due to the high price of fertilizer, farmers will use fertilizer sparingly and efficiently, expecting to use only about 40-50 kg per hectare. Regarding rice varieties, they plan to sow fragrant OM 18 rice hoping to sell it at a higher price.

Implement multiple synchronized solutions.

To ensure a successful summer-autumn rice crop, farmers have been implementing solutions to reduce costs and proactively respond to unfavorable production conditions. They prioritize selecting good seeds, meticulously preparing the land to create level fields, and carefully reinforcing dikes to manage irrigation water effectively, saving costs, and preventing weeds and pests, especially rats, golden apple snails, and brown planthoppers. Farmers also cooperate with other rice-producing households in the same field to pump water simultaneously, reducing costs, and simultaneously sow seeds in a concentrated manner to avoid planthoppers, manage pests and diseases, and utilize mechanized fertilization and spraying.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, for the 2026 summer-autumn rice crop, the city plans to plant over 272,000 hectares of rice, with an expected yield of over 1.65 million tons. The planting schedule for the summer-autumn rice crop in the city is divided into three phases. Phase 1: from April 6th to 12th (corresponding to the 19th to 25th of the 2nd lunar month); Phase 2: from April 29th to May 5th (corresponding to the 13th to 19th of the 3rd lunar month); Phase 3: from April 24th to 30th (corresponding to the 8th to 14th of the 3rd lunar month).

The Department of Agriculture and Environment requests that localities arrange cropping seasons based on the city's seasonal framework, combining the measure of "sowing to avoid brown planthopper infestations, simultaneously and concentratedly for each region and field, paying attention to the drought situation at the beginning of the season," avoiding prolonged sowing periods, and preventing the presence of multiple rice varieties interspersed in the same field. Closely monitor local and migratory brown planthopper populations, combined with the hydrological regime and actual conditions of the locality, to develop a planting schedule and organize concentrated, simultaneous sowing in each area.

To help farmers successfully cultivate the 2026 summer-autumn rice crop, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City and local authorities have been actively implementing many comprehensive solutions to help farmers effectively cope with unfavorable production conditions and strive to minimize costs. Support and guidance are being provided to farmers to promote mechanization and the application of scientific and technological advancements in production to lower costs, improve productivity, quality, and selling prices. Simultaneously, information is being disseminated regularly on weather, hydrological, and pest conditions, providing recommendations to help farmers proactively respond. Maintaining and operating the irrigation system ensures water supply and timely notification of favorable water conditions, allowing farmers to take advantage of high tides to irrigate their rice fields. Farmers are also being advised to convert less efficient rice production areas in the summer-autumn season to vegetable and other crops that are more efficient and better adapted to drought conditions.

Text and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tiet-giam-chi-phi-de-vu-lua-he-thu-dat-hieu-qua-a202049.html