Nghe An Agriculture prepares timely response plan when severe cold lasts for a long time

On January 5, a working delegation from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Mr. Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, inspected the agricultural production situation in Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts.

Checking the sowing and planting of spring rice seedlings in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Phu Huong

This spring crop, Nghe An strives to cultivate 90,000 hectares of rice, including 40,000 hectares of hybrid rice, 50,000 hectares of pure rice and 42,000 hectares of quality rice. As of January 4, 2021, the whole province has sown over 410 hectares of spring rice seedlings.

Up to now, farmers in some communes of Nghi Loc district have started to go to the fields to plant rice seedlings for about 600 hectares in low-lying communes that are forced to use old rice seedlings such as Nghi Thai, Nghi Phong, Nghi Xuan, Nghi Xa...

Higher areas will plant rice seedlings according to the crop schedule, from January 10 to January 20; the remaining areas will be sown after the beginning of spring to avoid unfavorable weather, severe cold, and frost. The district has disseminated and recommended solutions to prevent cold and ensure crops to the people.

Visiting the onion growing model in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Phu Huong

In Hung Nguyen district, this spring crop, the district strives to plant 4,400 hectares of rice, of which 3,000 hectares have been planted with seedlings. Up to now, the whole district has sown 50 hectares of seedlings, enough to plant 1,000 hectares of early spring rice in the low-lying communes of Chau Nhan, Hung Loi, and parts of the communes of Hung Yen, Hung Trung, etc.

According to plan, the main tea will be planted from January 10 to 15, ensuring completion before Lunar New Year.

Checking the situation of pest control in vegetable growing areas in Hung Khanh commune (Hung Nguyen). Photo: Phu Huong

Inspecting 2 districts, comrade Nguyen Van De stated: According to the forecast of the Central Hydrometeorological Station, from the afternoon and night of January 7, cold air will cause a wave ofsevere cold3rd of this winter in the Northern and North Central provinces. In January, cold air is active, so there will be many long cold days, with about 3 - 4 severe cold spells.

This is the period when farmers organize sowing and planting, besides, there is a potential risk of some diseases that can arise and cause serious damage on a large scale, which will affect production.

To date, Nghe An has sown over 410 hectares of spring rice seedlings. Photo: Phu Huong

Therefore, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development suggested that localities should focus on directing and advising farmers on measures such as: Covering seedlings with plastic to prevent cold, and at the same time preventing rats and planthoppers from entering and causing damage and spreading diseases to seedlings; immediately stopping sowing andstrictly prohibitedsowing and transplanting rice on days when the temperature is below 16⁰C; speed up the land preparation process. For areas of rice that have been sown directly, continue to maintain water in the furrows, ensure that the bed surface is always moist, and use wood ash to fertilize the bed surface evenly to increase cold resistance.

Focus on taking care of vegetables to meet market demand, especially during the upcoming Lunar New Year.

“We must regularly monitor weather developments and haveresponse plan"In time when the cold weather lasts for a long time" - Comrade Nguyen Van De emphasized.