Support 50% of seed cost to convert rice land to winter crops

(Baonghean.vn) – Along with the policy of converting rice-growing land to growing other crops, many localities in Nghe An have a mechanism to support 50% of seed costs for people growing winter crops.

» Policy to support farmers "sticking" to winter crops

Many vegetable areas on the two-rice land in Nghi Loc have been harvested. Photo by Hong Vinh

*Nghi Loc converts 2,000 hectares of double-rice land to grow winter vegetables in 2016.

Along with 350 other households in Nghi Thuan commune, Mr. Le Cong Khoa's family in hamlet 6 happily harvested 2.5 sao of various vegetables. He said: "This winter crop, with the encouragement of the Party Committee, the commune and hamlet authorities, my family converted nearly 1 sao of double-rice land that could not produce summer-autumn crops due to lack of water to grow vegetables. After more than 1 month of implementation, the family has so far harvested 2 crops. On average, each sao earns from 4 to 5 million VND."

Due to prolonged drought and lack of water, 190 hectares of summer-autumn rice in Nghi Kieu commune cannot be produced. To compensate for part of the area, the People's Committee of the commune has directed people to convert more than 100 hectares of double-rice land to winter corn production. In addition, with the support policy of 35 and 30 thousand VND/kg of seeds from the Provincial People's Committee, the district and commune also support an additional 20 thousand VND/kg. The total support for 1 sao of corn produced on double-rice land for farmers is 85 thousand VND/kg of seed price.

Mobilizing machinery to prepare the land and plant high-value crops. Photo: Thu Hien

This winter crop, Nghi Loc has successfully mobilized people to convert over 2,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice fields that were not used for summer-autumn rice production due to drought to other crops. The main focus is on vegetables, corn, and shallots.

Mr. Dong Thanh Binh, Deputy Head of Nghi Loc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "According to the 2016 winter crop plan, the district will plant nearly 4,300 hectares, of which winter corn is 2,900 hectares, vegetables are 900 hectares, and peanuts are 450 hectares. To gain victory in terms of area, productivity, and crop output, the district has established a steering committee and working group to closely follow localities; deploy many groups of solutions; issue mechanisms and policies to focus on converting summer-autumn rice fields to winter crop production, prioritizing income value per unit area."

* Anh Son district supports 50% of corn seedsover 800 hectares of winter crop on double rice land.

This summer-autumn crop, Anh Son district produced 2,200 hectares of corn, the main varieties being LVN61, DK6919, CP 333, SSC2095, with an estimated summer-autumn corn yield of 5 tons/ha. The total output is estimated at over 11,000 tons. Along with focusing on harvesting, people are preparing the land to plant winter corn, the sowing season is expected to end before October 30, 2016.

Right after harvesting summer-autumn corn, Anh Son farmers prepare the land for winter crops. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Do Ngoc Thuy's family in village 8, Hoi Son commune, has nearly 2 sao of rice land. In previous years, his family often left the winter crop fallow. For the past two years, since the locality had a policy of growing corn on rice land, after the summer-autumn rice harvest, Mr. Thuy's family immediately started preparing the land to plant corn. Because growing corn on rice land not only provides food for livestock development, but also sells it to earn more income; corn plants and leaves are also used as food for livestock in the winter.

In the 2016 Winter crop, the whole district strives to plant 3,500 hectares of winter corn, of which winter corn on double-rice land: 800 hectares. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dang - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Anh Son district said: To encourage people to plant winter corn on double-rice land, the People's Committee of Anh Son district has a mechanism to support seed money of 25,000 VND/sao, the Provincial People's Committee also has a policy to support 35,000 VND/sao for winter corn on double-rice land.

In the winter crop, farmers choose short-term, high-economic-value varieties. Photo TH

In order to speed up the progress of winter crop production and ensure crop productivity, the District People's Committee directed communes and towns to focus on guiding people on planting and care measures to ensure the plan on area, productivity and output. Mobilizing the entire political system, Steering Committees, working groups in hamlets and villages to go to each household to encourage them to work hard in the fields and wade through the fields to help people. Cadres and Party members from communes to villages who have fields must go to work first, promptly rewarding collectives and individuals who complete early and exceed the set plan targets.

In addition to winter corn, this year Anh Son district directed localities to plant 290 hectares of various vegetables and beans; 195 hectares of squash, 180 hectares of sweet potatoes to increase income per unit area.

Thu Hien - Hong Vinh - Thai Hien