Nghe An increases rice harvesting machinery, each household only has 1 person in the field

* Summer-fall crop this yearDo Luong districtNearly 8,200 hectares of rice were planted. Many communes used combine harvesters and motor vehicles to harvest, limiting people from going to the fields to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.

In the fields of Hoi Tam hamlet, Thinh Son commune - Do Luong, to harvest rice quickly and ensure epidemic prevention, farmers have hiredcombine harvesterto harvest rice. Average harvest price is 140 thousand VND/sao.

Mr. Phan Sy Hop - Hoi Tam Hamlet, Thinh Son Commune - Do Luong said: "This is the second year we have harvested summer-autumn rice right during the Covid-19 epidemic. Following the commune's policy, we harvest rice as it ripens to ensure that we avoid the Covid-19 epidemic that may occur in the commune, and to avoid rain and wind that may cause the rice to fall over."

Combine harvester on rice field in Hoi Tam hamlet, Thinh Son commune, Do Luong. Photo by Ngoc Phuong

According to farmers in Thinh Son and Luu Son communes, this year's summer-autumn crop yield has decreased compared to last year due to prolonged hot weather and insufficient water during the rice flowering period. In Luu Tho hamlet, Luu Son commune, farmers produce 52.7 hectares of rice, mainly Khang Dan and Huong Thuan varieties. Yield reaches 2.2 quintals/sao, down about 70kg/sao compared to last year.

In Thai Son commune, the rice harvest is being carried out urgently. Thanks to the proactive water supply, the yield is equal to last year's, although at the beginning of the season, some areas had to re-sow 3 times due to heavy rains causing flooding in the fields. "This summer-autumn crop, my family's rice harvest went smoothly. In general, the yield is the same as last year. This crop is estimated to reach 200 kg to 2.200 kg/sao...", Mr. Hoang Van Hung - Hamlet 4, Thai Son commune, Do Luong excitedly said.

Mr. Hoang Van Hung, hamlet 4, Thai Son commune, Do Luong is loading rice onto a truck to take home. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Currently in Do Luong district, some communes such as Luu Son, Thinh Son, Tan Son, Thai Son, Quang Son... have started harvesting rice. To ensure quick rice harvesting, all hamlets rent combine harvesters. Bagged rice is transported home by tractors and motor vehicles to ensure limiting the number of people going to the fields.

In Quang Son commune, the commune government has coordinated to rent 4 harvesters to serve farmers in harvesting rice. The estimated yield is 55 to 56 quintals/ha. Mr. Pham Hong Son - Vice Chairman of Quang Son Commune People's Committee, Do Luong added: "This summer-autumn crop, our commune planted 351 hectares of rice, with no abandoned areas. Currently, 70% to 80% of the rice area has ripened. To ensure epidemic prevention, we have a policy that each household can only have 1 person in the field to harvest rice."

Harvesting summer-autumn rice in Bac Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Xuan Hoang

* LIVEDien Chau,According to Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of Agriculture DepartmentDien Chau districtsaid that under the direction of the district, communes in the district have applied appropriate solutions to harvest rice for people to ensure safety against the epidemic. By August 25, the whole district had harvested about 6,000/total 8,700 hectares of summer-autumn rice in the district. All harvester owners must have a license.quick testnegative within 72 hours to enter the commune to work.

"Because localities are applying social distancing according to Directive 16, people do not gather in large numbers in the fields, and only one person comes to each household's field to receive the field and rice to transport home. For the 6 hamlets applying medical isolation, people absolutely do not leave their homes, so the commune mobilizes militia forces to harvest rice for the people," Mr. Le The Hieu shared.

Rice harvesting and transportation team of Dien Thai commune (Dien Chau) serving people during the epidemic season. Photo: PV

Dien Thai Commune, Dien Chau District has 2 hamlets that have to apply some additional urgency levels compared to Directive 16. Ms. Dinh Thi Trang - Vice Chairman of Dien Thai Commune People's Committee said that the commune has arranged 8 rice harvesters and established 4 rice transport teams to serve the people, sometimes harvesting at night. With the method of harvesting by hamlet, doing it neatly as it goes, ensuring social distancing during the rice harvesting process, up to now, the locality has harvested over 70% of the total area of ​​358 hectares of summer-autumn rice.

*Yen Thanh Districtis a locality with complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, in which 8 communes have applied some urgent measures at a higher level than Directive 16, so the rice harvest is facing more difficulties. Mr. Le Van Hong - Head of the District's Department of Agriculture said that by August 25, the whole district had harvested about 6,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice, and currently, about 5,000 hectares are being harvested by localities.

Farmers in Nam Thanh commune promptly dry rice after harvesting it from the fields. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Like other localities, Yen Thanh directed people to harvest rice while ensuring epidemic prevention safety, absolutely not allowing many people to go to the fields, and harvester owners must have a negative rapid test certificate for Covid-19 within 72 hours.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, up to this point (August 26), the whole province has harvested about 12,000 hectares of rice, out of a total area of ​​87,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice. Localities that have harvested quite a lot: Yen Thanh, Dien Chau; in addition, some districts have harvested such as: Thanh Chuong, Quynh Luu, Do Luong...

Localities that have ripe rice, although having to quarantine according to Directive 16 of the Government, have arranged machinery and human resources to harvest rice for people to ensure progress and implement epidemic prevention according to regulations.Government Directive 16With the motto "green house is better than ripe field", when the rice is about 80% ripe, localities should organize the harvest to avoid risks due to the weather.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection