Mountain farmers race against time to harvest.

(Baonghean.vn) - Due to the prolonged drought, the planting season for ethnic minorities in the highlands has been delayed. Therefore, in mid-July, after the peak of the hot season ended, people are racing against time to plant their crops.

To keep up with the planting season, neighborhood groups in Trung Dinh village (Chi Khe - Con Cuong) have been helping each other with sowing and planting.

The hottest days have passed, but many mountainous areas in Nghe An province are still facing water shortages for agricultural production. In Con Cuong district, large areas of rice paddies in Don Phuc and Thach Ngan communes cannot be planted due to lack of water. This is also a common situation in many other areas such as Ky Son commune (Tan Ky district), Chau Thai and Chau Quang communes (Quy Hop district), etc.

The people of Ky Minh hamlet, Ky Son commune (Tan Ky district) are heading to the fields to race against time for the planting season.

A drought lasting over two months has prevented rice planting in the hamlets of Khanh Quang, Ban Ang, Na Xen, and other villages in Chau Quang commune (Quy Hop district). Ms. Lo Thi Lan, residing in Na Xen hamlet, said: "Every year at this time, the rice would have grown very well. I've never seen a drought like this year." On a 20-hectare field, farmers have only just begun plowing, waiting for water. Some households have sown seedlings but have to pump water from irrigation ditches, while others have to use barrels to carry water from streams to prepare the land for planting. Mr. Vo Trong Dinh, from Khanh Quang hamlet, said: "Since we've already soaked the seedlings, we have to sow them anyway, even though we don't know if there will be enough water to prepare the land for transplanting."

Farmers in Chi Khe commune (Con Cuong district) are hiring tractors to prepare the land for planting in time for the upcoming crop season.

Despite the difficulties with irrigation water, the people are still making great efforts to plant their crops on time. The village management boards mobilized people to dredge canals to bring water to the fields. Farmers in Lang Mon hamlet (Chau Quang) even took advantage of the night to fetch water to irrigate their fields. Staying up late and waking up early to fetch water to irrigate the fields is also a common situation for farmers in Chi Khe commune (Con Cuong).

Women from Lang Mon hamlet (Chau Quang - Quy Hop) fetch water at night.

Helping parents with seasonal farm work.

Either way, these days, in many mountainous areas, rice farmers are racing against time to meet the planting schedule. In many places, the planting is already behind schedule, but the farmers are still determined to sow and plant to ensure food security for their families.

Huu Vi - Dao Tho