Nghe An converts 2,414 hectares of rice to other crops to combat drought

(Baonghean.vn) - Ensuring adequate irrigation for the entire planting area according to the plan is the first requirement in the 2017 Summer-Autumn production direction.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requested localities to develop specific and detailed plans for converting crop and season structures for each area. Photo: Phu Huong

Summer-Autumn crop production in 2016 took place in difficult and harsh conditions, with many areas damaged by natural disasters and pests, but the area, yield and output of some major crops all increased compared to the plan.

In 2017, with the food production target of 1,217,300 tons, the Summer-Autumn - Winter crop must strive to reach 462,800 tons of food. Based on the successes and limitations of the Summer-Autumn - Winter crop last year, this year, Nghe An set a target of planting 94 thousand hectares of rice (55 thousand hectares of Summer-Autumn crop and 39 thousand hectares of Winter crop); 16 thousand hectares of corn. Of which, the structure is 25 thousand hectares of high-quality rice and about 20 thousand hectares of hybrid rice.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo PH

After listening to the discussion opinions of representatives of districts and towns, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Nghia Hieu concluded: In the specific conditions of Summer-Autumn production, each locality must base on the specific production conditions of each region to arrange the variety structure, crop structure, and reasonable season, ensuring safe and effective production, in which achieving the goal of safety is the top priority.

Ensure harvest before August 30 for 20,000 hectares of flood-prone land; before September 10 for highland areas; especially for highland areas in the delta and semi-mountainous rice fields, varieties can be arranged for harvest after September 15. Focus on accelerating the application of mechanization to shorten the time of production stages.

The squash growing model brings high income in Nam Xuan, Nam Dan. Photo: Phu Huong

Promote the conversion of crop structure and seasons in drought-affected areas to ensure safety and increase income per unit area. Crop conversion must go hand in hand with seasonal conversion, not allowing farmers to leave land fallow. It is expected that the whole province will have over 2,414 hectares converted to other crops.

Particularly for short-term crops such as corn, peanuts, sesame, and beans, after harvesting spring crops, it is necessary to proactively take advantage of the soil's moisture level to prepare the soil for immediate sowing.

The 2016 drought dried up the dam in Do Luong. Photo courtesy

Phu Huong