Actively prevent rice pests and diseases

(Baonghean) - Currently, spring rice is in the tillering stage, while the weather in recent days has been foggy, drizzly, and high humidity, creating favorable conditions for the development of rice pests. In this situation, localities are focusing on directing the implementation of many active solutions to promptly prevent the outbreak of pests.

In Dien Thai commune, Dien Chau district, rice blast disease outbreaks have appeared in hamlets. A few days ago, some households here sprayed pesticides, thanks to which the rice fields that were sprayed to prevent rice blast disease have now turned green again. Ms. Dang Thi Ly, Hamlet 9 - Dien Thai commune, shared, "My rice fields also had rice blast disease, thanks to proactive early spraying, the infected area has now decreased a lot." As for the areas with rice blast disease where people did not proactively spray pesticides in time, the rice plants have begun to show signs of burning.

Before Tet, the weather was warm and sunny, people focused on fertilizing rice to help it tiller early, so most of the spring rice at this time is growing very well. Meanwhile, the weather in recent days has been drizzle, humid, and dense fog in the early morning and late afternoon, which are favorable conditions for rice blast disease to spread quickly. Faced with the risk of rice blast disease arising and causing damage, localities have directed and propagated to farmers to implement measures to prevent rice blast. Mr. Le The Hieu, Head of the Plant Protection Station of Dien Chau district, shared: "This year, due to early planting and favorable weather, the rice has grown strongly, however, in some places, pests have appeared. Faced with the development of pests, we have notified and directed people to spray pesticides promptly...".

Farmers in Dien Thai commune (Dien Chau) spray pesticides to prevent rice blast disease. Photo: Vinh Thao

Mr. Luu Xuan Thi's family in Tan Lai hamlet, Phu Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) visits the fields every day, checking 8 sao of spring rice in the tillering stage. Currently, the rice fields are growing normally, but we cannot be subjective, because this is an area where rice blast outbreaks often occur. Mr. Thi said: "The erratic weather, drizzle like the past few days, makes it easy for the disease to break out, so I have to visit the fields regularly to check the rice, if there is rice blast, I buy medicine to spray immediately...".

Meanwhile, Ms. Bui Thi Tinh's family in Hamlet 5, Quynh Hong Commune (Quynh Luu) planted 10 sao of Thai Xuyen 111 rice. After checking the fields, Ms. Tinh said: Unlike previous years, this rice crop has favorable weather, less cold, more warm sunshine, so the entire rice area has sprouted quickly and grown well. However, currently, rice blast disease has appeared in some fields, so the family has to stay in the fields every day so that if they detect disease, they can spray pesticides in time. At the same time, they actively grasp the propaganda information of the Commune Agricultural Board to prevent pests and diseases most effectively. This spring crop, Quynh Hong Commune planted more than 272 hectares of rice, with the main varieties being AC5, Thai Xuyen 111, sticky rice, etc.

Thanks to favorable weather, warm sunshine from the beginning of the season combined with balanced fertilization, weeding and mud-cleaning for rice plants, up to now, 100% of the commune's spring rice area has grown well. However, rice blast disease has occurred and damaged over 5 hectares of rice, with an infection level of 2-3 leaves. Especially, in the current situation of prolonged drizzle and high humidity, the disease is at risk of developing and causing more damage. Therefore, the commune is focusing on directing the Agriculture Department as well as farmers to actively spray pesticides to prevent and control the disease in a timely manner. The Commune Agriculture Department also regularly propagates on the loudspeaker system about the harmful effects and development potential of pests and diseases so that farmers can raise awareness of complying with the principles in preventing rice blast disease, preventing the disease from spreading and developing, affecting the growth and yield of rice plants. Mr. Nguyen Van Duc, an agricultural officer of the commune, said: “This year, people in hamlets 1 and 2 of Quynh Hong commune went to the fields to plant rice 10-12 days ahead of schedule, so pests and diseases also appeared earlier. Regarding the 5 hectares of rice infected with mild blast disease, after checking the fields, we have issued a notice to direct the villages to take timely preventive measures. If the sun comes out in the next 1-2 days, the situation will be better.”

Actively prevent rice pests and diseases

Currently, the spring rice area in Quynh Luu district is in the period of intensive tillering and the end of tillering. Blast disease appears sporadically over a large area with a rate of 1 - 4% of diseased leaves, mainly in some areas of rice varieties such as AC5, Q5, 986, Thai Xuyen 111, TBR 225, Cuu Da Co So 1... in the communes of Quynh Tan, Ngoc Son, Quynh Lam, Quynh Hong, Quynh Doi. Mr. Nguyen Tien Lien, Head of the District Plant Protection Station, said: “Currently, the northeast monsoons often supplement and strengthen but for a short time and shift to the east, so the humidity in the air will increase, while this is the period when farmers focus on fertilizing the rice to tiller, so the rice plants are dark green and dense. Considering both factors, it is very favorable for rice blast disease to arise, spread and cause damage on a large scale. In this situation, communes and cooperatives have coordinated with staff of the Plant Protection Station to strengthen inspection and supervision. In fields where disease outbreaks appear, people are instructed to retain water in the fields and stop applying fertilizers, including foliar fertilizers.”

It is forecasted that in the coming time, weather conditions will still be quite favorable for the rice blast disease to spread widely. In addition, rats have also caused local damage in many communes, with a rate of 5 - 7%. In that situation, to minimize the occurrence of rice blast disease and rats destroying spring rice, the Plant Protection Station of Quynh Luu district has directed cadres in communes, towns, and agricultural cooperatives to coordinate with cadres of the plant protection station in charge of the area to strengthen investigation and detection to have a plan to direct people to prevent and control the disease promptly and effectively. For areas where diseased areas have appeared, station staff will guide farmers to keep water in the fields, stop applying all types of fertilizers and at the same time use specific drugs such as: Fikia 525 SE, Katana 20SC, Beam 75 WP... As for the situation of harmful rats, it is necessary to propagate and instruct farmers to actively go to the fields to kill rats by manual methods and use biological drugs to minimize the damage caused by rats in the fields, affecting the rice yield at the end of the season.

Up to now, the whole province has more than 2,200 hectares of rice infected with blast disease, concentrated in Hung Nguyen (990 hectares); Vinh City (506 hectares); Thanh Chuong (500 hectares) ... In the face of erratic weather and pests, Mr. Phan Duy Hai, Deputy Head of the Provincial Plant Protection Department, recommended: "People need to pay attention to the development of the disease to spray at the appropriate time according to the recommendations of the Plant Protection Department. For areas that have been infected, people need to stop fertilizing with nitrogen and should not use foliar fertilizers during this period". According to forecasts, the weather in the coming days will continue to be complicated, very favorable for blast disease to cause damage and develop. To protect the spring rice area, localities as well as farmers need to regularly visit the fields, promptly detect pests and diseases and synchronously deploy crop protection solutions.

Vinh Thao - Hong Dien