Farmers in Nghe An are actively tending to their sugarcane crops after the first rains of the season.
Following the refreshing rains, the sugarcane growing area of Song Con Sugar Company quickly recovered. Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions, farmers focused on caring for their crops according to the instructions of agricultural officials, ensuring good sugarcane growth.
Staying in the fields to take care of the sugarcane
In early August, after a prolonged period of hot weather, successive rains replenished moisture, helping the sugarcane fields to become lush and green again. This is also the time when sugarcane enters the stem elongation stage, requiring careful attention to ensure yield and quality. Taking advantage of the favorable weather, farmers focused on clearing weeds, removing and collecting old leaves, cleaning the fields, and applying a second round of fertilizer to supplement nutrients, creating conditions for plant growth, sugar accumulation, and uniform development.
Mr. Hoang Van Chung, residing in Van Long hamlet, Giai Xuan commune, is one of the households with many years of experience in sugarcane cultivation. On nearly 1.5 hectares, his family has maintained sugarcane farming for over a decade, considering it their main crop and a source of stable income.
According to Mr. Chung, during the production process, sugarcane also goes through difficult periods due to fluctuating market prices or the impact of weather. However, compared to many other crops, sugarcane is still considered an "easy-to-grow" crop, suitable for the local soil and climate conditions, requiring little care, and especially having a relatively stable market thanks to links with processing plants. This helps sugarcane growers feel secure in investing in long-term production.
This year, after a long period of intense heat, many sugarcane fields experienced slow growth, with some showing signs of wilting leaves, affecting the plant's development. However, recent rains have replenished soil moisture, creating favorable conditions for the sugarcane to recover and enter the stem elongation stage – a crucial stage for yield and harvest.
Taking advantage of the favorable weather, Mr. Chung's family is focusing on tending to their entire sugarcane crop. The main tasks include clearing weeds, collecting dry leaves, cleaning the fields, removing old leaves, and applying a second round of fertilizer to supplement nutrients for the plants.
According to him, this is the time when sugarcane plants need plenty of sunlight for photosynthesis and sugar accumulation, so removing old leaves and creating good ventilation in the sugarcane field is a very important technical step. If old leaves are allowed to cover the stem or weeds grow, the plant's growth will decrease, directly affecting yield and raw material quality.
“Currently, there are only about three months left until the harvest season. This is a crucial stage, so we must focus on careful care, fertilizing at the right time, and keeping the sugarcane fields well-ventilated so that the plants can grow well, accumulate high sugar content, thereby increasing yield and economic efficiency,” Mr. Hoang Van Chung shared.
Closely monitor for pests and diseases affecting sugarcane.
Mr. Nguyen Sy Hai, in charge of agricultural affairs at Song Con Sugar Company, said that after a long period of intense heat in June and early July, many sugarcane fields in the area withered and grew slowly, raising concerns about the risk of reduced yield. However, continuous rains from the end of July until now have replenished water sources in a timely manner, helping the sugarcane plants recover significantly.
According to Mr. Hai, out of the more than 6,000 hectares of raw material areas where the company is involved in production, over 300 hectares that were previously affected by drought have almost completely recovered. Soil moisture has improved, the sugarcane plants are growing healthily and simultaneously entering the stem elongation stage – a crucial period for yield, production, and sugar content at harvest.
To take advantage of favorable weather conditions, the company is coordinating with local authorities and technical staff to strengthen guidance for farmers on caring for sugarcane fields according to proper procedures. In particular, technical steps such as removing and clearing old leaves, clearing field edges, and removing weeds are being emphasized to create good ventilation for the sugarcane fields, ensuring the plants receive sufficient sunlight, increasing photosynthesis, and limiting habitats for pests and diseases.
In addition, farmers need to urgently apply the second round of NPK fertilizer to supplement nutrients during the plant's vigorous growth phase. Applying fertilizer at the right time and in the right dosage will help the plant develop its stem, increase its sugar accumulation capacity, and improve both yield and the quality of raw materials for processing at the end of the season.
Mr. Hai also noted that the alternating rainy and sunny weather conditions currently are very favorable for the emergence and spread of certain pests and diseases. Therefore, sugarcane growers need to regularly inspect their fields and closely monitor the development of pests and diseases to take timely measures to prevent widespread outbreaks. Currently, some areas are still experiencing localized damage from sugarcane borers. If not detected and controlled early, this pest can reduce plant growth, affecting the yield and quality of raw sugarcane.
“There isn't much time left until harvest, so this is the stage where farmers need to focus intensely on care. Implementing good technical measures such as field sanitation, balanced fertilization, and pest and disease monitoring will help sugarcane grow healthily, develop well, accumulate high sugar content, and achieve the expected yield,” Mr. Nguyen Sy Hai emphasized.
Along with directing the care of the raw material area, Song Con Sugar Corporation is urgently preparing for the new crushing season. These days, the company is mobilizing its team of engineers and workers to focus on inspecting, maintaining, and upgrading the entire production line system, from raw material receiving equipment, crushing systems, boilers to mechanical, electrical, and automation components. Machinery is being reviewed and replaced to ensure stable operation during the peak production period.
According to company representatives, equipment maintenance and upgrades are carried out immediately after the crushing season ends and completed before the factory resumes operation. This is a crucial step to improve processing efficiency, minimize operational problems, and ensure timely procurement and processing of all sugarcane raw materials from farmers, contributing to improved production and business efficiency in the 2026-2027 crop year.
Sugarcane is one of the main crops, providing a stable source of income for many households in the communes of the former Tan Ky district. Thanks to the establishment of a sustainable production and consumption chain, the entire sugarcane output of the farmers is purchased by Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company according to plan, helping farmers feel secure in investing in production. With the motto of harmonizing interests, the enterprise and sugarcane growers always work together, supporting each other from production to harvesting and product consumption.
