Nghe An: Nearly 6,000 hectares of rice fields cannot be planted due to drought.

Currently, the entire province has 5,914 hectares of rice that cannot be planted due to water shortage. In particular, about 500 hectares of rice have been affected by black stripe dwarf disease.

This year's summer-autumn crop season in Yen Thanh district saw the planting of 12,383 hectares out of a planned 12,800 hectares, including 8,723.5 hectares of transplanted seedlings and 3,605 hectares of direct seeding; in addition, there were 266 hectares of corn, 46 hectares of peanuts, and 248 hectares of vegetables.

According to a representative of the district People's Committee, Yen Thanh still has about 300 hectares that cannot be planted due to water shortage, 200 hectares left fallow by farmers, and 1,000 hectares that have been planted but are affected by drought.

In addition, 85 hectares of rice have been affected by black stripe dwarf disease, concentrated in Hong Thanh and Phu Thanh communes… The entire district has organized pest control on over 4,000 hectares of rice.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspects the situation of rice dwarf disease in Hong Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district). Photo: Phu Huong.

Dien Chau district has planted 9,200 hectares of summer-autumn rice out of the planned 9,200 hectares (achieving 100%). Of this, 9,150 hectares are transplanted rice and 50 hectares are direct-seeded rice. As of July 7th, 210 hectares of summer-autumn rice in the district are experiencing water shortages, concentrated in areas at the end of canals, high-lying areas, or far from water sources. The district is focusing on solutions to create irrigation water for the rice crop.

Quynh Luu district has planted 7,370 hectares of rice out of a planned 7,550 hectares (reaching 97.62%). As of July 9th, the total drought-affected area in the district is 820 hectares, including 212 hectares that have not yet been planted and 608 hectares that have already been planted but are at risk of dying due to water shortage.

In addition, samples of white-backed planthoppers tested positive for black stripe dwarf disease in Quynh Luu. The district has directed the people to focus on using specific pesticides to control white-backed planthoppers in the first phase.

During the meeting, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district proposed that the province consider supporting the district with funding for the construction and dredging of several irrigation canals and new pumping stations, as well as providing fuel subsidies for pumping water from reservoirs and dams where the water level is lower than the water intake gates to serve agricultural production.

Inspecting the production situation in Quynh Yen commune (Quynh Luu district). Photo: Phu Huong

According to a report from the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, as of July 9th, Nghe An province had sown and planted 77,953.6 hectares of summer-autumn rice/seasonal rice out of a planned 96,000 hectares (reaching 81.20%). Of this, summer-autumn rice accounted for 59,802.8 hectares/planned 58,000 hectares; and seasonal rice accounted for 18,150.8 hectares/planned 38,000 hectares. The entire province hasPlanting 8,235.3 hectares of corn (planned 16,500 hectares); nearly 447.9 hectares of peanuts (planned 1,200 hectares); 2,548.6 hectares of sesame (planned 3,500 hectares); and 4,527.3 hectares of vegetables and beans (planned 9,000 hectares)..

Due to the impact of the recent intense heatwave, 17,870.5 hectares of rice and almost all of the area planted with other crops are experiencing drought conditions. Of this, 5,914 hectares of rice have not yet been cultivated.

Agricultural officials inspect the development of rice dwarf disease. Photo: Phu Huong.

After inspecting the actual situation, Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong requested: Localities must focus on reviewing and balancing water resources to allocate all forces and utilize water resources by all means to care for rice seedlings and areas where rice has already been sown and planted;

Farmers are advised to take care of and fertilize rice plants to ensure good growth and development. For other crops, based on the specific situation of each locality, they should urgently sow and plant to ensure the planned targets are met.

Specialized units are intensifying field inspections to detect and promptly handle outbreaks of pests and diseases, especially black stripe dwarf disease, brown planthopper, white-backed planthopper, and leaf-rolling caterpillar.

In particular, weather patterns can be unpredictable, requiring proactive and effective solutions, rational crop planning, and regular monitoring to ensure timely prevention and control measures are in place.

Phu Huong