(Baonghean.vn) - Sowing rice directly on dry sandy soil may seem strange, but this is a long-standing practice of farmers in many communes.Nghi Thach, Nghi Phong, Nghi Xuan, Nghi Thinh, Nghi Trung, Nghi Truong (Nghi Loc). After each rain, as long as the soil is moist, people go down to the fields to sow rice.

Farmers in Nghi Thinh commune plow the land with machines, then the fields are harrowed flat and smooth to sow rice.

Each year, only two crops are produced, including the winter-spring corn crop and the dry rice crop, so families in the sandy areas wait for the summer rains. Ms. Le Thi Ba, Hamlet 4, Nghi Thinh Commune (Nghi Loc) said: This year, her family has produced 6 sao of rice. However, like many other families, she has to sow rice on dry sandy fields in time to avoid flooding and must have rain for the seeds to germinate.

By producing this way, her family does not have to do the seedling stage, but only needs to soak the seeds for 2 days and 2 nights, then sow the seeds directly on dry soil that has been plowed and harrowed thoroughly. The requirement of this method is that the rice varieties must be resistant to harsh weather and must be soaked again when the rice is green.

Nghi Thach farmers prepare land for rice cultivation

According to farmers growing rice in dry fields: To germinate seeds at a high rate, soil preparation is the most important step, the soil must be prepared carefully, with a lot of manure added. After that, the field is harrowed to be flat, smooth and moist. After sowing the seeds, people continue to use harrows to cover the seeds. After the rice plants germinate, encountering favorable weather, with rain, people begin to prune, care for and weed.

Mrs. Le Thi Ba's family in Hamlet 4, Nghi Thinh Commune (Nghi Loc) said: This year's crop, her family produced 6 sao of rice on sandy soil.

The rice production area in dry fields in Nghi Loc is mainly concentrated in the communes of Nghi Thach, Nghi Phong, Nghi Xuan, Nghi Thinh, Nghi Trung, Nghi Truong. In which, mainly purebred rice varieties suitable for climate and soil conditions are used such as: Khang Dan 18, Khang Dan Mut Mut, Nghe An purebred rice, HN6, Thien Uu8, I30.

This year's crop, due to drought, Nghi Loc only produced 1,987/4,000 hectares. Of which, 800 hectares were produced by farmers using the method of sowing rice on dry fields. These are communes with sandy soil and no irrigation works. Mr. Dong Thanh Binh, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district, said: Farmers produce by sowing rice on dry fields. Although the yield is lower than that of wet rice production, it avoids the situation of abandoned fields like some other localities and brings significant food output to families. The dry field rice yield is estimated at only 2 tons/ha.

Dry rice has turned green in some places.

Thu Hien - Ngoc Mai

(Nghi Loc Radio)