Exciting "Going to the Fields Festival" 2019

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Quang Tung - Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Union; Mr. Nguyen Van Lap - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; representatives of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee, the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department; the Provincial Farmers' Union and leaders of Dien Chau district. Photo: Quang An

The festival is held to encourage and motivate farmers to enthusiastically compete in production labor; increase the application of scientific and technical advances in production; improve the productivity and quality of crops and livestock, contributing to building a sustainable new countryside.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tung - Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association beat the drum to launch the festival. Photo: Quang An

In Nghe An, in recent years, the going-to-the-field festival has been held in some mountainous localities such as Quy Chau, Que Phong... creating a joyful, exciting atmosphere and a vibrant competitive spirit for farmers before entering a new crop and a new production year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tung - Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union - Chairman of the Nghe An Farmers' Union emphasized: The festival is a meaningful activity, arousing the spirit of enthusiastic work for farmers, especially during the spring crop production period. The Provincial Farmers' Union called on farmers in the province to continue to promote tradition, solidarity, dynamism, creativity, and improve qualifications, knowledge, and production skills.

Poor households in the locality received support gifts from the Provincial Farmers' Association and the People's Committee of Dien Chau district. Photo: Quang An

Party committees at all levels, authorities, organizations, and businessmen continue to support and create favorable conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies so that farmers have enough intelligence and strength to promote restructuring of the agricultural sector, associated with building new, modern, and civilized rural areas.

Mr. Phan Xuan Vinh - Vice Chairman of Dien Chau District People's Committee, on behalf of Dien Chau District leaders, thanked the Provincial Farmers' Association for organizing a large-scale contest, helping farmers participate in practical and useful activities at the end of the year.

In addition, the district also assigned responsibilities to agencies, departments, and communes in the area to strictly implement the crop calendar, forecast weather and pests, maintain machinery, and provide good sources of seeds and techniques so that people can feel secure in production.

Giving gifts to near-poor families in the commune. Photo: Quang An

The rice planting competition was held at 5 farmer associations of 5 hamlets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Dien Quang commune.

The competition time is 15 minutes, the teams must ensure the requirements set by the organizers: Planting at the correct density (35 clumps/m²), rows 20 cm apart, plants 14 cm apart; ensure straight rows, correct number of clumps and fast planting. Maximum score for teams is 100 points.

Teams enthusiastically participate in the rice planting competition. Photo: Quang An

After a period of exciting competition, team 3 won first prize, team 1 won second prize, and third prize went to teams 2, 4, and 5.

On this occasion, 18 poor households in the commune were supported by the Provincial Farmers' Association and the People's Committee of Dien Chau district with 18 gifts, each worth VND500,000 in cash. 200 poor and near-poor households in the area were also supported by sponsors with a bag of fertilizer each.

Team of Hamlet 3 (Huynh Duong) excellently won first prize in the rice planting competition. Photo: Quang An

The first time the festival of going to the fields (also known as Tich Dien festival) was held was in 987 when King Le Dai Hanh personally went to the fields to plow with farmers in a rural area in today's Ha Nam province. Since then, the festival of going to the fields has been held annually under many kings and has become an important festival in the lives of people in many regions across the country. Since 2010, this festival has been restored in many localities.