Proactively prevent leaf rollers of the 5th generation

(Baonghean) - The weather since mid-July has been erratic with rain and sunshine, and high humidity, creating favorable conditions for leaf rollers to develop widely. Localities in the province are actively fighting leaf rollers to protect crops.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan's family in Hamlet 2, Dien Thai Commune, Dien Chau planted 6 sao of rice, at the stage of over 45 days old, the 4th generation of leaf rollers appeared, accounting for about 30%. After the commune announced the schedule and instructions, he proceeded to spray. However, according to Mr. Tuan, most of the worms were resistant to pesticides, appearing in high density, making it quite difficult for farmers and costing a lot of money and effort to prevent and control.

Farmers spray insecticide on leaf rollers. Photo: Dinh Ha

Pupae of leaf roller. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Many areas in Dien Chau district, after completing the control of the 4th generation of leaf rollers, the 5th generation of leaf rollers broke out on summer-autumn rice from July 18 to 23 with an area of ​​6,800/9,200 hectares. At this stage, the rice has finished tillering and entered the stage of panicle formation. If damaged by pests, it will cause serious damage to yield and may result in total loss. To proactively control the 5th generation of leaf rollers, the District People's Committee directed the branches in the agricultural sector to deploy to the communes to actively inspect the fields to promptly detect the 5th generation of leaf rollers, organize early spraying when the worms have just hatched with specific pesticides, thereby, being able to control effectively, avoiding the need to spray many times for the worms to develop.

Up to this point, Dien Chau has basically controlled the areas infected with leaf rollers. Over 75 hectares have been affected by leaf rollers, concentrated in the severely drought-affected communes of Dien Lam and Dien Doai. The district is directing localities to continue to closely monitor forecasts and prevent pests and diseases on over 200 hectares of late-season rice.

In Yen Thanh district, many localities are infected with the fifth generation of leaf rollers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga in Loc Thanh hamlet, Nam Thanh commune, said: "When we discovered the fifth generation of leaf rollers, we often visited the fields. The density of the worms was quite high, so the family bought pesticides to spray to prevent them according to local instructions."

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Head of the Yen Thanh District Agriculture Department provided more information: "The fifth generation of leaf rollers infected more than 8,000/11,300 hectares of rice in the district. The district promptly directed the Plant Protection Station to coordinate with local authorities, delimit the area, and guide farmers to spray pesticides according to the recommendations of professional agencies.

Officers of Yen Thanh Plant Protection Station coordinate with local authorities to regularly visit fields and monitor the development of small leaf rollers to guide farmers in timely spraying. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Through discussion, Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, said: The whole province has 16,168 hectares of summer-autumn rice infected with leaf rollers. Of which, 2,525 hectares are lightly infected, 4,210 hectares are moderately infected and 9,433 hectares are heavily infected.

In the key areas, Yen Thanh has 2,500 hectares, Dien Chau 6,460 hectares, Quynh Luu 6,255 hectares. According to the forecast of the Provincial Plant Protection Department, from now until the end of the season, pests such as: 6th generation leaf roller, silver leaf, brown leaf... will continue to arise and cause damage, directly threatening the yield and quality of rice products. It is likely that from August 18, 6th generation leaf roller will appear again, mainly on the drought-affected winter-spring rice and late summer-autumn rice areas, about 24,000 hectares.

Therefore, to prevent pests at this stage, farmers need to use appropriate drugs and regularly monitor the development of late-season pests to prevent them effectively. The development of small leaf rollers that appear to cause damage to rice plants is very complicated, so people need to strictly follow the recommendations of the authorities on time, dosage, and type of drugs to spray to protect the crop.

Van Truong