The Hmong people of Nghe An 'give a new look' to their terraced rice fields.
Xuan Hoang - Quang An•November 29, 2024 10:03
In the highlands of Nghe An province, November and December each year bring a lush and beautiful sight. This is the season when the Mong people draw water into their terraced rice fields to prepare the land for planting the spring rice crop.
During this time of year, the Mong people in Tri Le border commune (Que Phong district) are bustling with activity, heading to the fields to irrigate their terraced rice paddies and prepare the land. Each person has a task, working diligently and swiftly, plowing, building embankments, and clearing waterways in preparation for the planting season. (Photo: Quang An)Mr. Ly Ca Dinh from Na Nieng village, Tri Le commune, said that his family owns three terraced rice fields, covering an area of 800 square meters. Although there is still more than a month until the spring rice planting season, he and his wife are now irrigating the fields and using machinery to prepare the land. For the people in the highlands, agricultural production is essential to ensure food security, so rice cultivation is a top priority to achieve high yields. Photo: Quang AnOn each terraced rice field, a common sight is the husband driving the tractor to prepare the soil, while the wife clears the embankments and regulates the water flow to the fields. Photo: Quang AnMs. Va Thi Co, wife of Mr. Ly Ca Dinh, said that the purpose of preparing the land early is to bury all the weeds and rice stubble deep into the soil and allow them to decompose. Then, on planting day, only one harrowing is needed. Doing this reduces pests and weeds, and the rice plants grow better. Photo: Xuan HoangTo regulate water flow into the terraced rice fields, farmers often use plastic pipes laid across the embankments to channel water from the upper fields to the lower ones. Along with carefully constructed embankments, this ensures water retention in each rice paddy. Photo: Quang AnThe water for the rice fields is sourced from the Kem Ai dam in Tri Le commune, and partly from natural streams flowing from the forest. Wherever water reaches the fields, farmers use machinery to till the land. Photo: Xuan HoangPreviously, people used buffaloes and oxen to till the land, but nowadays they mainly use tillage machines, which reduces labor, speeds up the process, and makes the soil finer. Photo: Xuan HoangThe terrain in the highlands of Nghe An province is generally hilly and winding, so the terraced rice fields and the process of bringing water to the fields are truly a testament to creativity, diligence, and skill. During the harvest season, the highlands change their colors, displaying the golden-red hues of alluvial soil, the vibrant green of young rice seedlings, and the sparkling clear water reflecting the sky. Photo: Xuan HoangAccording to Mr. Lu Van Cuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tri Le commune, the locality has 450 hectares of paddy fields, mainly terraced fields. Every year, starting from the end of November, farmers, especially the Mong ethnic minority, go to the fields to irrigate their rice paddies, prepare the land, and get the fields ready for the spring crop. Therefore, during November and December, the terraced fields in the commune are filled with the sounds of tillage machines, creating a bustling and beautiful scene. According to information from the Que Phong District Department of Agriculture, the entire district will plant 2,200 hectares of rice in the upcoming spring season, mainly on terraced fields. Unlike other ethnic groups, the Mong people in the district are very attentive to their fields, so they prepare the land early every year to ensure thorough preparation for a successful harvest. Photo: Xuan Hoang
