Fearing the low-pressure system will intensify into a storm, farmers in Nghe An are busy harvesting their summer-autumn rice crop.
Following reports that a tropical depression in the East Sea could strengthen into a storm, causing widespread heavy rain, farmers in Nghe An province are urgently harvesting their summer-autumn rice crop to minimize losses.
On the golden rice fields of Hop Minh, Van Tu, Yen Thanh, Quang Thanh communes... (formerly Yen Thanh district) or communes belonging to the former Do Luong, Nghi Loc, and Dien Chau districts, the rice has ripened, signaling a bountiful harvest. However, instead of leisurely harvesting, the people here are racing against the weather.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, from Hop Minh commune, who just finished harvesting nearly 2 acres of rice, shared: "Hearing that there would be heavy rain in a few days, my family had to call in a harvesting machine right away at noon. The rice was basically ripe; if we left it for a few more days and it rained, it would flatten, sprout, and we would lose everything."
In the fields, it's easy to spot combine harvesters working at full capacity. The operators say that farmers are calling constantly, and they even have to eat their meals right on the machines to keep up with the harvest.
Binh Minh commune (formed by merging Duc Thanh, Ma Thanh, Tan Thanh, and Tien Thanh communes from the former Yen Thanh district) is a locality with a relatively large area of summer-autumn rice cultivation, totaling 775 hectares. Due to favorable weather conditions at the beginning of the season this year and proper care by farmers, the rice plants have large panicles and many plump grains.
However, according to Mr. Tran Van Giang, Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, late-season storms caused many areas to be flattened, affecting yields. "Immediately after Typhoon No. 5, the commune mobilized machinery and directed the hamlets to urgently harvest. To date, the entire commune has harvested about 40% of the area. Given the risk of the low-pressure system strengthening into a storm, the commune continues to encourage people to take advantage of the weather to harvest early," Mr. Giang said.
The bustling harvest atmosphere continues in other fields in the communes of the former Dien Chau district. Many households are mobilizing manpower, hiring harvesting machines, and even utilizing the concrete roads within the fields to dry their rice.
Mr. Le The Hieu – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Minh Chau commune (formed by merging the former Dien Cat, Dien Nguyen, Hanh Quang, and Minh Chau communes of Dien Chau district) said: “This summer-autumn crop season, the commune planted nearly 1,800 hectares. After receiving information that the low-pressure system could strengthen into a storm, the commune promptly mobilized farmers to harvest early with the motto 'better to harvest while still green than wait until it's overripe'. To date, about 1,500 hectares have been harvested.”
According to the National Center for Hydrometeorology, this morning, August 29th, the tropical depression in the East Sea is developing in a complex manner and may strengthen into a typhoon, causing widespread heavy rain in the North Central provinces in the coming days. This is the time when the summer-autumn rice crop is entering its peak harvesting stage. If heavy rain occurs, the risk of rice flooding, germination, reduced yield, and poor quality is very high.
For this year's summer-autumn crop season, Nghe An province planted over 75,000 hectares, including more than 56,000 hectares of summer-autumn crops. The agricultural sector has continuously advised localities to speed up harvesting to avoid damage when storms and heavy rains arrive.
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Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc, Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, advised: Given the developing tropical depression, which is likely to strengthen into a storm and is approaching the coast, potentially causing heavy rain in the coming days, farmers need to urgently harvest their summer-autumn rice crop that is 80% or more ripe to minimize losses. As of August 28th, over 3,290 hectares have been harvested throughout the province, concentrated in the communes of Hop Minh, Van Tu, Yen Thanh, Tan Chau, Minh Chau, and Quang Chau.
For rice fields that are ripening, take advantage of favorable weather conditions and mobilize combine harvesters, manpower, and equipment to harvest quickly and efficiently. In areas at risk of flooding, prioritize early harvesting, drying, and safe storage of the rice.
In addition, farmers need to clean their fields, clear drainage ditches, and prevent rainwater from accumulating, which can cause crop failure and germination. Agricultural service cooperatives and local authorities need to support and mobilize forces to help people harvest their crops promptly, minimizing damage after the storm.
