Nghe An: Many localities are behind schedule in summer-autumn rice production.

Many areas at risk of abandonment

According to observations of reporters, by early June, the entire spring rice area in the districts of Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen... had been harvested; farmers were planting summer-autumn rice.

Dong Ban field in Lang Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) has favorable water resources, but as of June 3, most of the area has not been prepared for the summer-autumn crop. Photo: Xuan Hoang

However, besides the fields that have been sown, there are still many areas that have not been tilled, with stubble still remaining after harvest.

According to farmers' feedback, many areas that have not been tilled are likely to be left fallow this summer-autumn crop. Old farmer Hoang Danh Dung in Dong Ban hamlet, Lang Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) said that Dong Ban fields have always been favorable for growing two rice crops a year. This year, in particular, there has been a lot of rain, so the water source of lakes and dams is abundant. However, many families have not yet started tilling the land to grow summer-autumn rice after harvesting spring rice, leaving the fields in disarray, with some houses tilled and others empty. If people leave the land fallow for many months, it is a waste.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Son - Chairman of Lang Thanh Commune People's Committee said: Due to the high increase in agricultural input materials, along with uncertain summer-autumn crop production and low rice yield, many fields in the commune are at risk of being abandoned this summer-autumn crop. To limit farmers from abandoning their fields, the local government regularly propagates, mobilizes, and encourages people to increase summer-autumn rice cultivation. Accordingly, in addition to the State's support policy, the commune also supports by exempting protection fees and some other fees... to stimulate summer-autumn crop production. However, as of June 3, many areas have not yet been tilled, and some fields have not even been planted.

Some localities have closed the summer-autumn rice area by mobilizing organizations and unions to plant the summer-autumn crop to raise funds. Mr. Dang Quang Hoang - Chairman of the People's Committee of Vien Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) said that in order to close the summer-autumn rice area as planned, for areas at risk of being abandoned by farmers, the commune mobilized organizations such as Veterans, Farmers, Women... to receive land for planting. Up to now, nearly 100% of the summer-autumn rice production area has been planted on schedule. Currently, only a few areas in low-lying areas prone to flooding have not been able to do so.

Many double-crop rice fields in Yen Thanh and Dien Chau districts... although they have been harvested for a long time, as of June 3, the land has not been prepared for summer-autumn planting. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Mr. Le Van Hong - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district, the situation of people abandoning fields in the summer-autumn crop is quite common in some communes of Yen Thanh district such as: Do Thanh, Lang Thanh, Hop Thanh, Ma Thanh... and this summer-autumn crop, although the area of ​​abandoned fields has not been confirmed by the beginning of June, many fields have not been prepared for planting.

In order for farmers to stick with the summer-autumn crop, in addition to the State's support policy, the district has directed communes to propagate and mobilize people to actively stick with the fields, cultivate the land and plant in closed areas.

This summer-autumn crop, Yen Thanh district plans to plant 11,500 hectares of rice. "To close the summer-autumn rice area, in addition to encouraging people to plant, the district People's Committee has proposed three solutions: First, encourage grassroots organizations and unions to receive fields for production, in order to enjoy the State's support policies. Second, create conditions for agricultural service cooperatives to receive land for planting. Third, it is possible to lease land to companies for summer-autumn crop production," said Mr. Le Van Hong.

Dien Chau district is a locality that has a lot of uncultivated land for planting this summer-autumn crop. Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: In this summer-autumn crop, Dien Chau district plans to produce 8,000 hectares, and 1,000 hectares will not be planted with rice. Of those 1,000 hectares, 400 hectares are in low-lying areas, where people harvest spring rice by hand, so they should be left to take care of the rice husks, 200 hectares will be converted to crop structure, and the remaining 400 hectares that are not favorable for production can be left fallow in the communes: Dien Thap, Dien Yen, Dien Truong, Dien Lam...

Speed ​​up summer-autumn production progress

According to the report of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the spring crops have been basically harvested. However, the summer-autumn crop planting area is currently behind schedule. The total rice area sown and planted is more than 12,600 hectares/plan of 88,000 hectares, reaching 14.37% of the plan and 46.73% compared to the same period in the summer-autumn crop in 2021 (27,068 hectares).

Localities need to speed up the progress of summer-autumn rice cultivation. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Therefore, to speed up the planting progress, close the area according to the plan and ensure safe production of the 2022 summer-autumn crop before the upcoming storm season, on June 3, 2022, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an official dispatch on strengthening direction to speed up the production progress of the 2022 summer-autumn crop.

Accordingly, it is recommended that the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns focus on directing and organizing the good implementation of a number of contents: Strictly implement Directive No. 11/CT-UBND dated May 16, 2022 of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening the direction of summer-autumn crop production in 2022.

Resolutely direct the production of the 2022 summer-autumn crop to close the planned area; mobilize the entire political system to participate in production direction. Establish the District-level Summer-Autumn Crop Production Steering Committee and assign leaders of the District People's Committee, leaders of departments and offices to direct and take specific responsibility for each commune, commune cluster, ward and town.

Strengthen forecasting and forecasting work, strictly monitor and direct pest and disease prevention for the summer-autumn crop in 2022.

Directing to speed up land preparation and plowing to produce the summer-autumn crop before June 20. Increasing the use of organic decomposition products to avoid organic poisoning of rice in the early stages. Implementing well the solutions for summer-autumn crop production, building a seed structure and crop schedule to direct farmers to strictly implement, especially for the rice planting season in low-lying areas, often flooded.

Implement well the support mechanisms and policies of the Central and the province; In addition, balance the district-level budget to provide additional support to producers to encourage people to produce in the face of high material prices to minimize the situation of farmers abandoning their fields.

There is a plan to implement crop restructuring and crop conversion on ineffective rice-growing land, suitable to the specific conditions of the locality in accordance with the plan issued in Decision No. 1488/QD-UBND dated May 31, 2022 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on promulgating the plan to convert crop structure on rice-growing land in the whole province in 2022./.