Nghe An: Mobilizing all resources to urgently harvest summer-autumn rice crop to avoid the storm.

With Typhoon Conson just days away, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai's family in Hung Trung commune, Hung Nguyen district, has just finished harvesting their 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of rice at full speed.

"Better to have a green house than an old field."This is the "principle" of production during the summer-autumn season, and with storms approaching, even though the rice isn't fully ripe, he still hired a harvesting machine.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai's family in Hung Trung commune, Hung Nguyen district, rented a rice harvesting machine. Thanks to having enough harvesting machines, the summer-autumn rice harvest is progressing very quickly. Photo: Phu Huong

"The storm is coming in just a few days, and it's sure to rain heavily. If we try to leave the crops in the fields, the rain will cause even more damage, and harvesting and drying will be much more difficult. Luckily, we were still able to rent machinery because many other communes have already finished harvesting," Mr. Hai said.

According to Mr. Le Viet Hung from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hung Nguyen district, as of September 9th, the entire district still has 1,300 hectares of summer-autumn rice that have not yet been harvested, concentrated in the communes of Hung Tay, Hung Yen Bac, Hung Yen Nam, and Hung Trung...

"These past few days, we have directed all communes to mobilize their resources and focus on harvesting the summer-autumn rice crop on all areas where the rice is 70% ripe, even using combine harvesters until the evening."raceThe weather is favorable. However, many rice fields are still green, with only about 50% ripe, so they cannot be harvested yet.”

Farmers in Nam Dan district are busy harvesting the summer-autumn rice crop. Photo: Phu Huong.

Being a low-lying area, crop failures due to floods during the summer-autumn season are nothing new for farmers in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district. Although it has rained in the area for the past few days, as soon as the rain stops, the farmers gather in the fields to harvest.

While hastily loading rice onto a truck, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong from Hamlet 3, Kim Lien Commune, said: "Just a few days of continuous rain and the entire rice field will be submerged. A few days ago, we tried to wait for the rice to ripen further, but today we have to harvest it because the storm is coming in a few days. The harvested rice will be spread on the floor, with fans on to prevent mold, and then dried in the sun," Mrs. Hong added.

Taking advantage of a break in the rain, farmers head to the fields to harvest their rice before the storm arrives. Photo: Phu Huong

While localities within the Northern Irrigation System have basically harvested their summer-autumn rice crop, in some southern districts such as Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, and Nghi Loc, due to later planting, many areas remain unharvested.

Prior to forecastbig stormAs the rains made landfall, local authorities mobilized machinery to quickly harvest rice crops that were 70% ripe.

Provincial leaders and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspect the summer-autumn rice production and harvest situation in Hung Nguyen district. Photo: Phu Huong

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Van De, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, about 10% of the province's summer-autumn rice crop is still green and cannot be harvested prematurely.

"Local authorities and irrigation units need to coordinate closely and prepare for the operation of pumping stations and other facilities."draining waterlogged areas,"Lowering the water level in the fields is necessary to protect the summer-autumn rice crop and winter crops. In areas where it's possible to demarcate, build embankments; in areas with drainage systems, focus on clearing waterways to ensure rapid drainage," Mr. Nguyen Van De emphasized.