Nghe An: Rice blast disease spreads over 127 hectares of spring rice

These days, many spring rice fields in Hung Phuc commune (Hung Nguyen) and some neighboring communes have had rice blast disease at a fairly high rate.

Rice blast disease is developing rapidly in some spring rice fields in localities. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Ho Van Nhuan, a farmer in Hung Phuc commune, said: The rice blast disease appeared on the rice a week ago. At first, it was only mild, with small white spots appearing on the leaves. However, after a few days, some rice fields were quite heavily infected and had to be sprayed with pesticides. "About 1/3 of my rice fields were infected with the rice blast disease. My family has bought pesticides from the agricultural cooperative to spray according to the commune's recommendations," said Mr. Nhuan.

By cellMr. Hoang Duc An - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hung Nguyen district: Currently, the whole district has about 100 hectares of spring rice infected with blast disease, concentrated in the communes of Hung Phuc, Hung Thinh, Hung My... The District People's Committee has directed the Plant Protection Station to go to the area to check the situation of rice pests and diseases and notify the communes to direct people to use timely methods to prevent and control blast disease, limiting the spread of the disease.

Farmers in Hung Phuc commune, Hung Nguyen district spray pesticides to prevent rice blast disease. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection said: As of February 15, the whole province had 127 hectares of spring rice in the districts of Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc and Vinh City infected with rice blast disease, at a fairly high rate.

Mr. Duc advised that foggy, cold weather in the morning and warm sunshine in the afternoon are favorable conditions for rice blast disease to develop strongly on rice plants in the tillering stage. Therefore, farmers need to regularly visit the fields, apply balanced fertilizer, and maintain water in the fields properly; for sown fields, it is necessary to thin out the fields. When detecting rice blast disease on the leaves, it is necessary to use pesticides promptly.

In addition, some other pests such as rats and golden apple snails appear quite a lot in some localities: Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau... Especially in rice fields planted on deep, low-lying land, golden apple snails appear at high density.

Spring rice in many places is being damaged by rats. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Therefore, localities need to focus on rat extermination by trapping, baiting, and clearing bushes around rice fields; combining rice care with catching golden apple snails for timely destruction.

How to prevent and control rice blast disease

Fertilize with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in a balanced manner, do not apply too much nitrogen, and do not concentrate nitrogen fertilization during the period when rice is susceptible to diseases, such as the flowering period. When a disease invades, keep the water level in the field 3-5 cm; stop fertilizing with nitrogen and potassium, stop spraying foliar fertilizers and growth stimulants of all kinds, and spray preventive and control chemicals promptly. When the disease stops developing, fertilize and provide normal care.

Regularly visit the fields, when detecting rice blast disease, spray preventive medicine with specific medicines: Fuji - one 40 EC, dosage of 50 cc of medicine mixed with 30 liters of water and sprayed for 1 sao; Fuji - one 40WP, dosage of 50 grams of medicine mixed with 30 liters of water and sprayed for 1 sao; Kasai 21.2 WP, dosage of 50 grams of medicine mixed with 30 liters of water and sprayed for 1 sao; Filia 525 SE, dosage of 24 cc of medicine mixed with 20 liters of water and sprayed for 1 sao; Vista 72.5 WP, dosage of 30 - 40 grams of medicine mixed with 30 liters of water and sprayed for 1 sao.

Pay attention to the 4 right principles when spraying: right medicine, right time, right dosage and right way.