Golden harvest season in the rice fields

JOY OF THE SEASON

From early morning, the sound of combine harvesters echoed in the fields of hamlet 3, Hoa Thanh commune, Yen Thanh. Mr. Phan Dung in hamlet 5, Hoa Thanh commune confided: This spring crop, although the weather was not very favorable, but thanks to proper fertilization, the rice plants grew well, giving quite high yields. The family cultivates 5 sao of rice fields, mainly using purebred TBR 225, reaching 3.5 quintals/sao, this variety has good rice quality, high economic value. For example, the market price of purebred TBR 225 is 7,000 VND/kg, while the hybrid variety is only 5,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, an agricultural official of Hoa Thanh commune, said: The whole commune has planted over 240 hectares, of which 70% of the area is planted with TBR 225 variety, the remaining area uses hybrid varieties. Because farmers have followed the correct intensive farming process, from sowing, planting schedule to care and pest control, Hoa Thanh's spring crop is a good harvest, with an estimated yield of nearly 7 tons/ha.

Rice harvester in Hoa Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: VT

To proactively speed up the progress, the commune has rented 14 combine harvesters to spread across the fields, and is expected to complete the harvest in about 7-10 days. In addition, many communes grow hybrid rice with outstanding productivity such as Lien Thanh commune with a yield of 76 quintals/ha, Tho Thanh with nearly 75 quintals/ha...

This spring crop, Yen Thanh district planted over 13,500 hectares of rice, and from May 1, farmers have started harvesting rice. The district has mobilized over 100 harvesters of all kinds to the area to speed up the harvest progress. It is expected that by May 15, Yen Thanh will finish harvesting spring rice. According to the assessment, this year, the district's spring crop achieved a rice yield of 72 quintals/ha.

One of the reasons for this year's spring crop is that farmers strictly follow the agricultural calendar. At the same time, the structure of varieties is oriented towards high productivity and quality to meet market demand. Good quality rice varieties are used, limiting or not using varieties susceptible to planthoppers. The district focuses on developing high quality rice areas.

Good rice harvest in Yen Thanh. Photo: Hoang Ha

Yen Thanh also focused on doing a good job of investigating, detecting, predicting early and accurately the situation of rice pests to recommend and guide focused direction for effective prevention. Regarding irrigation, from the beginning of the season, mobilized forces to dredge and clear canals throughout the district, had a plan for scientific water distribution, thoroughly saving water, the end of the canal, the dam area, pumping stations, and proactively prepared plans to deal with drought when it occurs.

In addition, Yen Thanh district continues to cooperate with companies such as TH Group; Vinh Hoa Company Limited, Nghe An Agricultural Materials Joint Stock Company; Central Seed Company, Thai Binh Seed Company and other enterprises to organize joint production of over 1,200 rice seeds, raw rice production, and commercial rice according to contracts signed between cooperatives and enterprises.

Harvest as you work the land

In Hop Thanh commune, right after the spring rice harvest, farmers are actively preparing the land to plant seedlings for the summer-autumn crop. Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh in Hop Thanh commune said: My family has now finished harvesting 4 sao of rice, a week before we started planting seedlings. In addition to using varieties of seeds that meet the grade and quality, we prepare the land and plant seeds according to the correct technical process. For example, the place for planting seedlings should be sheltered from the wind, high and dry, convenient for irrigation.

This year, Hop Thanh commune planted over 270 hectares, and has brought over 30 tons of seeds to farmers so they can plant in time. Up to this point, Hop Thanh commune has harvested over 80% of the rice area, and farmers work the land immediately after harvesting to start the summer-autumn crop. The commune has directed hamlets to mobilize forces and dredge canals to ensure water for the summer-autumn crop.

Yen Thanh farmers take advantage of the summer-autumn crop to work the land. Photo: VT

This summer-autumn crop, Yen Thanh district will plant over 12,500 hectares. In addition, based on the specific conditions of each commune and each field, suitable varieties will be selected from the rice varieties that have been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to be included in the structure. Such as the main varieties of Thien Uu 8, Song Lam 9, Vat Tu NA 6 Bac Thom...

Yen Thanh District Department of Agriculture propagates and recommends farmers to quickly harvest spring rice, plow the land as soon as harvest, and retain water in the fields to prevent summer-autumn drought.

The District Department of Agriculture recommends that before planting rice seedlings, people need to buy good seeds, have a clear address, and must treat the seeds. This is an important measure to destroy pathogens on the seeds right from the start. Sow 1 kg of rice seeds/8-10m²seedbed

The district strives to sow all varieties by May 10, and by May 20, will sow over 3,000 hectares of flood-prone areas concentrated in Long Thanh, Nhan Thanh, Vinh Thanh, Bao Thanh communes...; Promote agricultural extension activities, transfer new technical advances to increase productivity, quality, reduce costs, and improve economic efficiency; discourage the use of direct sowing in the summer-autumn crop.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Yen Thanh district

Yen Thanh farmers harvest spring crops. Photo: VT

During the crop production process, the district directed the agricultural service sector to fully prepare agricultural materials. For example, Yen Thanh Agricultural Materials Station has also gathered over 100 tons of seeds and nearly 3,000 tons of NPK and nitrogen fertilizers to meet production needs, while implementing policies to support people such as lending NPK fertilizers with deferred payment.

Right from the beginning of the summer-autumn crop, the district proactively inspected, dredged and maintained canals and irrigation canals to maximize water resources and avoid water loss. At the same time, it prepared a backup pump plan so that when needed, it could be handled promptly in drought-affected areas, and implemented rotational irrigation measures.

For dams that have run out of water, the district has coordinated with irrigation units to use field pumps to pump water from ponds, lakes and streams to irrigate rice, saving water from the reservoirs for the summer-autumn rice season. Strive to continue for a successful summer-autumn rice crop.