When farmers "break the rules" to plant seeds

(Baonghean) - This spring crop, in some localities such as Do Luong, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, many farmers still "broke the fence" and planted rice seedlings ahead of schedule.

According to the project "Organizing spring crop production in 2014" of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, spring begins in 2014 on February 4, 2014 (ie the 5th day of the Lunar New Year). On that basis, depending on the growth period of each variety and the actual conditions of the locality, the appropriate sowing and planting season will be arranged according to the principle of ensuring that the rice differentiates into panicles and blooms in suitable weather. Based on the growth period of each variety, the sowing and planting schedule will be arranged to ensure that the spring rice blooms from April 25 to May 5; Absolutely do not plant early to avoid the rice blooming in the cold at the end of the season.

However, in reality, many local farmers have disregarded the crop calendar and planted rice seedlings more than 20 days earlier. For example, in Yen Thanh, Khanh Thanh, Lien Thanh, Cong Thanh communes, Dien Chau district including Dien Thai, Dien Dong communes... from the 16th (lunar calendar) before Tet, people have gone to the fields, and around January 20-22, they have basically finished planting. On the right crop calendar on February 4, 2014 (ie the 5th day of the Giap Ngo Lunar New Year), the rice in these localities has grown green all over the fields. When going to the fields to ask the farmers, many people innocently answered: "Planting early to enjoy the spring and celebrate Tet".

When asked about the local authorities of some communes why they let people plant early in the crop calendar, the commune leaders explained: The commune has implemented the crop calendar of the Agriculture sector and recommended that people plant on schedule to reduce risks in production, but people still do not comply. The reason is that people here have the habit of cultivating according to local customs. In Do Luong district, most of the planned areas for planting over 60% of the 2014 spring rice area are racing to sow. According to a village chief in Yen Son commune - Do Luong, for a long time, Do Luong people often sow and plant rice, sowing is easy and saves labor and effort for planting and harvesting.

The failure to follow the crop calendar, along with the adverse weather conditions, has caused significant damage to the people, as everyone can see. For example, in the spring of 2011 and 2012 in Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, and Do Luong, many rice fields bloomed right at the cold season, causing the grains to be stale, causing heavy losses to farmers. In 2013, the whole province restructured 8,000 hectares of BC15 variety, of which 5,000 hectares were severely damaged due to the rice variety being "sensitive to cold weather". Farmers did not follow the crop calendar, allowing this rice variety to bloom during the cold season, so they had to suffer the consequences.

Some local officials, despite being warned, have not increased supervision and production guidance. Meanwhile, farmers continue to do things their own way, not following the crop calendar.

Vuong Tran