Nghe An farmers stay in the fields to protect their crops from the cold

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong in Quynh Hong commune (Quynh Luu) uses plastic to cover her rice field. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong's family in Quynh Hong commune grows 5 sao of Long Huong rice. At 9:00 a.m., when the weather is less cold, she rushes to the field to drain water from the canal to flow into the field in order tokeep rice warmIn the past two days, the temperature has dropped below 12 degrees Celsius, making her family extremely worried as the new spring rice fields have just taken root.

Ms. Huong said: “There has never been a year after Tet when there has been such a severe cold spell like this. If the rice plants are not carefully fertilized, they will be stunted, have reduced productivity, and even freeze to death. Based on long-standing experience, we should bring water into the fields to warm the rice plants; at the same time, check to see if any areas with sparse rice are covered and replant them; and focus on killing rats and golden apple snails that are biting and damaging them.”

People focus on pruning and replanting the rice fields. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Spring crop 2022,The entire Quynh Luu district planted 7,500 hectares of rice. In order for spring crops to grow well, be healthy and limit the occurrence of diseases, the district has directed relevant agencies, departments and branches to strengthen propaganda work so that people can actively stay in the fields, take care of and promptly protect crops from the cold.

Mr. Tran Duc Huu - Chairman of Quynh Hau Commune People's Committee said: "Implementing the direction of the district and local functional departments, we focus on propaganda work and instruct Phu Thanh Agricultural Service Cooperative to guide people on how to prevent and combat cold for spring rice. The important thing right now is for people to put water in the fields, keeping the water level in the fields at 1/2 of the rice plant to keep the rice plant warm and help the root system develop".

Long Xa commune officials (Hung Nguyen) stay in the fields, instructing people on how to protect spring crops from the cold. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Besides taking care of and protecting spring rice, peopleQuynh Luu coastal areaare also taking care of more than 700 hectares of specialized vegetables. People stay in the fields to weed and spray water on the leaves to reduce the impact of frost. At the same time, potassium fertilizer helps vegetables increase their resistance to cold.

In addition to the above cold-proof measures, according to vegetable growers in Quynh Luu district, when the weather is very cold, they also increase humidity and spray biological products on vegetables every 5-10 days to increase their resistance to cold and pests.

Thinning branches and twigs of tomato plants, creating an airy canopy, limiting harmful organisms. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In the alluvial plains along the Lam River, spring peanuts are starting to grow green. During the days when the temperature drops, people still stick to the fields to monitor the growth of the peanuts.

Quickly dredging to drain water from the peanut beds, Mr. Trinh Xuan Huong in Chau Nhan commune (Hung Nguyen) said: “Peanuts covered with plastic have better cold resistance. Currently, we have to drain all the water in the ditches to avoid water stagnation that causes waterlogging and wilting of the plants; where the peanut plants have not grown out of the plastic, puncture them so that the peanut plants can photosynthesize and grow. At the same time, check to tamp down areas where the plastic has slipped; lightly loosen the topsoil so that the plants are airy and the roots do not get clogged.”

Farmers in the Lam River alluvial area actively take care of the spring peanut fields that have just sprouted leaves. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, the whole province has closed nearly 10,000 hectares.lost springIn Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu districts and districts with riverside alluvial land. During the period of severe cold, farmers are focusing on draining water, digging the soil, removing crust and checking for dead peanut plants, or those damaged by rats, to incubate seeds and replant when the weather warms up again.

In the vegetable growing areas of Nam Anh and Nam Xuan, the areas of eggplant, squash, Malabar spinach, and herbs are being harvested. Despite the severe cold, people are still actively harvesting so that the yield and quality of the crop are not affected when the temperature drops sharply.

Vegetable beds are dredged to drain water to avoid waterlogging of the roots. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Phan Duy Hai - Deputy Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of the province said:“To protect crops from the cold during days of sudden temperature drops and frost, farmers need to master the following techniques: For newly planted rice plants, water must be brought into the fields, keeping the water level in the fields at half the level of the rice plants, to keep the rice plants and roots warm; For direct-sown fields, spread ash or phosphate fertilizer evenly throughout the field to keep warm.

For vegetables that are in the harvest period, they should be harvested immediately to avoid the plants being exposed to too cold weather which will affect the crops. For peanuts, soybeans, chili peppers, and spring corn, be careful not to plant when the temperature is below 13^oC even though the season has come. Vegetables such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, spring potatoes, cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower... when the weather is very cold, it is necessary to water enough and spray growth stimulants on vegetables every 5-10 days to increase their resistance to cold and harmful organisms.