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 to...keep the rice plants warm. In the past 2 days, the temperature has dropped below 12 degrees Celsius, making her family extremely worried when the new spring rice field has just taken root.

Ms. Huong said: “Never before has there been such a severe cold spell after Tet as now. If the rice plants are not carefully fertilized, they will be stunted, have reduced productivity, and even die from the cold. Based on long-standing experience, we need to bring water into the fields to warm the rice plants; at the same time, check to see if any areas with sparse rice cover are covered; and focus on exterminating 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 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 authorities, we focus on propaganda work and instruct Phu Thanh Agricultural Service Cooperative to guide people on how to prevent and fight the 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 plants to keep the rice plants warm and help the roots develop."

Long Xa commune (Hung Nguyen) officials 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 in the fields. People are weeding and spraying water on the leaves to reduce the effects 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 tomato plants' branches and twigs to create an airy canopy and limit harmful organisms. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In the alluvial area along Lam River, spring peanuts are starting to grow green. During the days of low temperatures, people still stick to the fields to monitor the growth of 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 waterlogged roots and wilted plants; where 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 fill in places where the plastic has slipped; lightly loosen the topsoil so that the plants are airy and do not choke the roots."

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 cold season, farmers are focusing on draining water, digging the soil, removing crust and checking 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, herbs, etc. are being harvested. Despite the severe cold, people are still actively harvesting so that the yield and quality of the crops 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 when the temperature drops and frost appears, 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 fields that are sown directly, spread wood 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 that will affect the crops. For peanuts, soybeans, chili, 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, also need to be watered enough and sprayed with growth stimulants for vegetables 5-10 days/time to increase their resistance to cold and harmful organisms.