At good prices, Nghe An farmers sell fresh rice right in the fields

After harvesting, traders bring trucks to buy rice right at the field. Photo: TP

In the spring crop of 2023, Mr. Phan Xuan Toan's family (village 5, Nam Giang commune, Nam Dan) planted 3 hectares of rice fields, and has now finished harvesting. This year's spring rice yield is higher than last year, accordingly, fresh rice reaches 3.5-3.7 quintals/sao, from 3 hectares of rice fields he harvested more than 11 tons of rice.

“After harvesting, I immediately sold 6 tons of fresh rice in the field to traders in Nghi Loc, the rest was dried and fanned for storage, consumption and animal husbandry. The price of fresh rice was 5,400 VND/kg, 600 VND/kg higher than last year, earning nearly 33 million VND,” Mr. Toan said excitedly.

Working on more than one hectare of rice field, 70% of which has been harvested, due to lack of drying yard and lack of staff, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (Dai Dong commune, Thanh Chuong district) sells fresh rice to people in the commune for 6,000 VND/kg.

People sell fresh rice right after harvesting at prices ranging from 5,400 - 5,700 VND/kg. Photo: TP

“Nearly 3 tons of rice were sold for 18 million VND to 3 people who do not work in the fields to buy for food. Bac Thinh rice variety has long grains, delicious and sticky rice, so it is favored by people, and the selling price is also higher,” said Ms. Huong.

This year, the spring rice harvest is good, the price of fresh rice is also higher than previous years, so most people sell rice right in the field to traders. Depending on the different rice varieties, the price is different, ranging from 5,400 - 6,000 VND/kg. Mainly, traders in Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Do Luong districts and Thanh Hoa province buy in large quantities to supply to the Northern market.

High selling price, no need to dry and preserve, so many people sell fresh rice to traders. Photo: TP

Ms. Trinh Thi Hao, a long-time rice trader in Do Luong, said: “Spring rice is usually fuller, more beautiful, and tastier, so it is very popular in the market. Since the beginning of the season, I have purchased about 200 tons of rice from people in the district and surrounding areas. The purchased rice is resold to traders in the northern provinces. Currently, the purchase price is 5,400 - 5,700 VND/kg of fresh rice and 7,000 - 7,500 VND/kg of dry rice, 500-700 VND/kg higher than last year.”

According to traders, the price of rice this spring crop is relatively good, even in all varieties. The main reason is that the rice market nationwide is bustling, the demand for goods from large wholesale warehouses is increasing. In addition, many countries in the world are increasing their rice reserves, the strong export market also pushes up rice prices compared to previous years.

Spring rice harvest is good, the grains are plump and beautiful, so traders focus on buying. Photo: TP

In particular, in the fields where farmers and businesses are linked, rice prices are also higher than the general market level. Currently, the model of linking rice production is being expanded in many localities in the province, concentrated in some districts such as Hung Nguyen, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, etc.

In the spring crop of 2023, Hoa Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) planted more than 200 hectares of rice, of which 90 hectares were for joint production, including 40 hectares of rice seeds and 50 hectares of commercial rice with varieties such as: BR225, HD11, HDT10. Accordingly, the enterprise will purchase at a price of 6,100 VND/kg of fresh rice.

The rice market nationwide is bustling, the demand for goods from large wholesale warehouses has increased, pushing up the price of spring rice. Photo: TP

“By linking up in production, people do not have to worry about the output of rice grains, the selling price is high, and there is no need to dry or preserve them after harvest. This year, rice has a good harvest and good prices while input material prices are on the decline, farmers have profits so they are very excited,” said Mr. Nguyen Cong Hong - Vice Chairman of Hoa Thanh Commune People's Committee.

According to data from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district, this spring crop, the whole district has more than 4,000 hectares of rice production linked to purchase of commercial rice. After harvesting, the linked rice areas are purchased by enterprises right at the field at a price higher than the market price.

In the linked fields, the price of commercial rice is higher than the general market price. Photo: TP

Up to now, the spring rice harvest has basically been completed, the rice has both a good harvest and good prices, so people are very excited. This is the motivation for people to actively prepare conditions in terms of seeds, materials, machinery, etc. for the summer-autumn crop production.