Going to the fields in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year)

(Baonghean.vn) -This spring, Thanh Chuong district plans to plant approximately 14,500 hectares, including 8,200 hectares of rice. Taking advantage of favorable weather, many households went to the fields to sow and plant in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) to ensure timely planting.

Men carry rice seedlings to the fields.

Today is the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, but Mr. Phan Dinh Hai from Hamlet 9, Thanh Hung Commune, Thanh Chuong District, is busy transporting tray seedlings for the spring rice planting season. Mr. Hai said that this season he is collaborating with Thanh Lien Agricultural Cooperative to produce tray seedlings and organize machine planting. Although Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching, he and his fellow villagers are still working to plant the rice on time, as they will have to focus on harvesting corn and potatoes and planting other crops after the New Year.

Like Mr. Hai and many other residents in Thanh Hung and Thanh Lien communes, people in areas with low-lying land or far from irrigation sources are also taking advantage of the opportunity to plant rice earlier than the general schedule of the district. They plant early to avoid the early summer floods and because they have access to natural water sources. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, a resident of Lien Chung village in Phong Thinh commune, happily said: “I cultivate 3 sao and 10 thuoc (approximately 3,000 square meters) and have already planted 3 sao, with only 10 thuoc left. I'm taking advantage of the planting time so I can go to the market tomorrow morning, the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year)...”

Many areas in Thanh Chuong now use rice transplanters, freeing up labor.

However, in many areas, people still have to plant rice manually.

According to the plan, Thanh Chuong district will plant 14,500 hectares of rice in the spring of 2017, including 8,200 hectares of rice with the main varieties being Kinh So Uu 1588, Huong Uu 98, and 27P31. From January 10th, mass sowing of seedlings began, with 100% of the area covered with plastic sheeting. Transplanting is scheduled to start on the 6th day of the first lunar month. However, due to favorable weather conditions in some communes, people have already started transplanting. According to initial statistics as of January 26th (the 29th day of the Lunar New Year), Thanh Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Phong Thinh communes have transplanted 50% of their area, with approximately 700 hectares transplanted throughout the district.

Mr. Le Dinh Thanh P., Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong District, said: "This year, the district issued and implemented the plan early and organized its implementation decisively from the beginning, so most types of seeds and fertilizers were supplied according to instructions, and basically there were no unofficial seeds. The fact that some localities started planting earlier than the general schedule is due to avoiding floods for the next season or because people are conserving natural water resources. The weather is currently favorable, sunny and warm, so it will not affect the rice crop."

With Tet (Lunar New Year) approaching and time running out, many people in Thanh Chuong district are still heading to the fields to work with high determination and the hope of a bountiful harvest.

Tran Dinh Ha