Actively prevent rice blast disease

(Baonghean) - Currently, 89,000 hectares of spring rice in the whole province are in the tillering stage in cloudy, cold weather conditions and high humidity, causing rice blast disease to develop and cause damage. The disease has appeared on an area of ​​120 hectares of rice in Nghi Loc, Thanh Chuong, Hung Nguyen districts, Vinh City... Therefore, drastic and effective prevention measures are needed.

People in hamlet 7, Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc) spray pesticides to prevent rice blast disease.

According to statistics from localities, by February 26, the total area of ​​rice infected with blast disease in the whole province was only 12 hectares, but after 7 days (March 3), the total area infected with the disease had increased to 120 hectares. This shows the strong spread and outbreak of the disease. According to statistics from the Plant Protection Department, among the above-mentioned areas of rice infected with blast disease, Nghi Loc district is the locality with the highest area infected with the disease with 50 hectares in the communes of Nghi Thai, Nghi Phong, Nghi Truong. In Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Yen Thanh districts and Vinh City... the area of ​​rice infected with the disease fluctuates around 20 hectares and is scattered.

These days, in Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc), people are focusing on taking care of rice and spring peanuts in the rooting period. Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Head of Hamlet 7, said: “The whole Hamlet 7 planted 19 hectares of rice, currently 1 hectare in Dong Bien and Dong Chua fields is infected with rice blast disease. In heavily infected areas, there are about 4 to 6 roots/m2, and in lightly infected fields, there are also about 2 to 3 roots/m2, mainly on Xi23 and Nx30 rice varieties. When we discovered rice infected with rice blast, we promptly reported to the commune agricultural extension staff and were instructed to spray pesticides. Currently, after 6 days from the first spraying, people are spraying the second batch to ensure the disease is completely extinguished.” Mr. Nguyen Van Ngai, an agricultural extension officer of Nghi Phong commune, said: Since the 4th day of Tet, some rice fields of people in hamlets 10, 14, 15 and 18 have been infected with rice blast disease. After the discovery, the commune directed and instructed people to spray pesticides on all areas. Up to now, the disease situation on rice has been controlled.

In Thanh Huong commune (Thanh Chuong), in the fields of Con Dau and Bai Ranh, we met Mr. Le Van Nam checking the fields. He said: “A week ago, after checking 2 sao of rice fields planted with BC15 rice variety of his family, he discovered that many plants were turning yellow, the leaves were dry and withered. Knowing that the rice was infected with rice blast, I immediately bought 4 packs of Beam 75WP mixed with water and sprayed it, now the disease is basically under control…”. Not only Mr. Nam’s family, some nearby fields were also infected with about 1 sao, the people sprayed the medicine according to the instructions of the plant protection officer. Mr. Nguyen Van Tu - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: "After detecting the phenomenon of rice blast on rice leaves, the commune's agricultural extension reported to the District Plant Protection Station and was provided with chemicals to spray. The total area of ​​​​infected rice was discovered to be 4 hectares, but the commune sprayed 10 hectares of rice in neighboring fields for prevention. Up to now, the disease has been basically suppressed."

Currently, rice areas infected with blast disease in our province have basically been sprayed with pesticides to prevent and control it. However, in the coming time, when the weather is warm, alternating with cold and humid air masses accompanied by rain, it will be favorable conditions for blast disease to arise and spread widely, especially on sandy soil, light soil, semi-mountainous areas and on fields with unbalanced fertilization and excess nitrogen. Mr. Pham Thanh Long - Deputy Head of the Department of Agricultural Plant Protection, Plant Protection Department said: "In addition to the weather conditions, there are still some shortcomings from the people in the process of dealing with and preventing this disease. Specifically, to spray the drug effectively, it is necessary to comply with the ratio of water to the drug.

However, farmers often mix less water than instructed, so when spraying, the amount of pesticide does not cover the entire leaf area, leading to diseased spores easily attacking areas without pesticides. On the other hand, when buying pesticides, farmers do not have a firm grasp of knowledge about the types of pesticides, but often depend on the seller or buy from others, and many times do not use the right type of pesticide, leading to low spraying efficiency. That not only causes waste but can also cause "drug resistance" to pests. If during the time the rice is infected, farmers also need to pay attention to fertilizing properly, limiting nitrogen fertilization, helping the rice blast disease to develop and spread quickly. Therefore, to completely eradicate rice blast disease, farmers need to learn and follow the rules in preventing and treating infected rice areas, strictly follow the instructions and recommendations of agricultural extension officers and plant protection officers in preventing this dangerous disease".

Thanh Quynh