Cost reduction in spring crop production

(Baonghean) -Farmers everywhere are going to the fields to prepare for the upcoming spring 2013 crop. Due to the sharp increase in input material prices, many farming households have worked hard to reduce production costs in order to earn more income.

In the bustling rice fields, Ms. Vo Thi Mai, Hamlet 1, Trang Son Commune, (Do Luong) shared: “I waited until this lean season to sell 3 quintals of rice (harvested from 1 sao) to get money for spring crop production, earning 1.8 million VND. If I sell in the main crop, I will only get 1.6 million VND. After calculating the costs, there is no profit. Because 3 sao of land can harvest 9 quintals of rice, but the labor cost for tilling the land with a machine is 250,000 VND for 1 sao, 750,000 VND for 3 sao, the cost of rice seeds is 520,000 VND; phosphate fertilizer is 450,000 VND, plastic costs 20,000 VND/sao, 60,000 VND for 3 sao; urea costs 10 kg for 1 sao, 30 kg for 300,000 VND. So it has cost 2,080,000 VND. dong. If we hire someone to plant, we have to pay more. Therefore, we only have a little left over from one crop. To save money, my family has only worked the land with buffaloes for several years now. The area is small, so we plow and harrow manually, saving more than 700,000 VND on machine rental. The whole family organizes the planting and does not hire anyone. I also use the plastic for 2-3 crops before throwing it away, which is both environmentally friendly and saves money. It is hard work, but in return, we make a profit from the work.



Farmers in Trang Son - Do Luong prepare the land to plant rice seedlings.

Ms. Hong Chau and Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung in Hamlet 1, Trang Son - also use old plastic to cover seedlings. After using one crop, the plastic is collected, cleaned, and dried for use in the next crop. Ms. Hoan in Hamlet 8, Trang Son, laughed happily: "I also heard that the hamlet announced that they would support plastic, but I will continue to use the plastic as long as it is not torn."

To reduce costs and keep up with the season, farmers in Do Luong also use the pulling power of buffaloes and oxen to plow the land. Those who do not have the means use buffaloes and oxen to harrow the land. The rest is reserved for the stage of preparing the soil for planting, using machines to make it soft, in time for the season. That is why all over the fields, buffaloes and oxen and people rush to the fields. Farmers in difficult economic times tighten their belts, carry the plow that has been put up on the shelf, regardless of the rain or cold, to the small fields to fertilize. Besides, manure is considered a highly effective solution to reduce costs.

Not only farmers in Do Luong know how to reduce costs in spring crop production, but in Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Tan Ky districts... people are also rushing to lead buffaloes to the fields, carrying manure to the fields. In hamlets 19 and 20 of Nghi Van commune (Nghi Loc), everyone plants together in groups, today this house tomorrow that house, which is both faster and less tiring. In Nghia Phuc (Tan Ky), many farmers also take advantage of plowing and harrowing with buffaloes and cows. Mr. Nguyen Van Nam, Vice Chairman of Nghia Phuc Commune People's Committee, said: "The price of oil is high, the cost of plowing machines is also increasing, so not everyone can afford to rent a machine to plow the land. The price of fertilizer is also increasing, the price of seeds is also increasing, most farmers in Nghia Phuc directly work in the fields to reduce the cost of hiring others." According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Thuc - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Tan Ky district, following the correct process is also a solution to reduce production costs. Following the right process here means fertilizing properly, fertilizing enough, not over-fertilizing, sowing and planting according to the right process and season to save seedlings, and at the same time protect seedlings from freezing and rat damage. Taking care of and preventing pests and diseases promptly, properly, and with real concern will be highly effective, and is also a way to not waste effort and money invested in the fields.

Spring crop 2013: the whole province strives to cultivate 86,000 hectares of rice of all kinds, with a yield of over 65 tons/ha. The rice varieties that are being encouraged by the Department of Agriculture are: Khai Phong No. 1, Nhi Uu 986, Qui Uu 12, AC5, VTNA 1... These are hybrid rice varieties with high yield and sell quite well in the market. Farmers in the province have simultaneously gone to the fields to prepare the land and plant seedlings to prepare for the main crop of the year. Although they have saved, the high price of fertilizer and rice seeds is still an obstacle to intensive investment in many localities.

Chau Lan