Does spraying herbicide make weeds grow more?
(Baonghean)In recent days, peanut farmers in many communes in Dien Chau and Nghi Loc districts have been struggling with a devastating weed infestation, despite having sprayed herbicides multiple times.
Ms. Huong, from Hamlet 13, Dien Thinh Commune, Dien Chau District, was diligently weeding peanut fields when she said: "It's so tough, sir. I don't know why there's so much weed growing this year. In previous years, after sowing the peanuts, we could weed once and it was all gone. This year, even though we've weeded twice already, the weeds still keep growing." Sharing the same predicament, Ms. Hoa said: "I've sprayed herbicide five times already, but the weeds still keep growing. I don't know why."
Ms. Huong from Hamlet 13, Dien Thinh Commune (Dien Chau District) is weeding.
According to many locals, there might be something wrong with the herbicide, because compared to previous years, people still planted peanuts and followed the same procedures as before. It is known that most peanut farmers here have sprayed Dibstar-50ec herbicide from Dien Ban - Quang Nam Agricultural Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company.
We observed that the peanut fields were overgrown with weeds, and some families mobilized their entire household to weed the fields, but still couldn't keep up. In hamlets 13, 8, and 12 of Dien Thinh commune these days, the atmosphere is like a weed-killing festival in the fields.
Mr. Hoang Tien Sy, Chairman of Bac Thinh Agricultural Cooperative (Dien Thinh, Dien Chau), said: "2,400 bottles of Dibstar-50EC herbicide, along with plastic bags, were delivered from the district's plant protection station to be distributed to the people as part of the provincial government's support policy. However, for some reason, after spraying the herbicide, the weeds grew so much. We have reported this to the district and are awaiting the results."
Not only in Dien Chau, but also in Nghi Long, Nghi Trung, Nghi Thach, and Nghi Hoa communes in Nghi Loc district, weeds are rampant in peanut fields. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Dong, head of Hamlet 12 in Nghi Long commune, said: "We don't know why there are so many weeds this year. My family has mobilized everyone to pull the weeds out of the peanut fields, but we still haven't finished."
Next to him, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who was also spraying herbicide, said: "Most people here have already sprayed herbicide, Dibstar-500c, but now I'm trying a different kind to see how it goes because there are too many weeds and I can't handle them all."
Worried that this year's peanut crop will be significantly affected in terms of yield and quality, farmers are struggling with weed infestations and don't know how to deal with them. Perhaps the local authorities and relevant agencies should investigate the cause of the problem and provide a satisfactory answer to the farmers as soon as possible.
Duc Chung
