Urgently repair rice areas damaged by flooding

Thousands of hectares of Summer-Autumn rice cannot be planted yet, in addition, more than 6 thousand hectares of rice have been planted but are deeply submerged. Of these, many areas cannot recover and must be replanted. This is a big problem for the agricultural sector and localities in the context of a very short remaining season.

Urgently repair rice areas damaged by flooding

Farmers in Ninh Van commune, Hoa Lu district replant rice fields damaged by flooding.

After heavy rains lasting from July 13 to July 22, in many places, the total rainfall reached over 400 mm, causing nearly 6,200 hectares of newly planted Summer-Autumn rice in the province to be deeply submerged under water. Immediately after that, another rain due to the impact of storm No. 2 further increased the flooding, many rice areas that could not recover had to be replanted.

Nearly 200 hectares of rice fields of Bach Cu Cooperative, Ninh Khang Commune, Hoa Lu District is an example. Mr. Nguyen Duy Khuong, Director of Bach Cu Cooperative, shared: Most of the cooperative's fields are in low-lying areas, often flooded, but this time the rain was too heavy and continuous, just drained this afternoon, then overnight heavy rain flooded again. Of nearly 200 hectares of rice fields of the cooperative, only 20 hectares were saved, the rest were completely lost.

Taking advantage of the rain to stop, Mrs. Pham Thi Mui, Dong Phu village, Bach Cu cooperative, went to check her family's newly sown rice fields but was heartbroken to see that most of them had been damaged. She said: 3 sao of rice in the highland area can still be saved, but 1 mau in the lowland area is flooded up to nearly half a meter, the possibility of recovery is impossible, every plant is broken, the roots cannot grow anymore.

"I was anxious about the season, so I soaked the seeds to be ready to sow as soon as the rain stopped, but then the rain kept on pouring out so I had to dry them for the chickens to eat. Today, I continue to soak a new batch and wait for "God"..., hoping to finish sowing by July to ensure the final yield.

In the same situation, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy (Co Loan 1 village, Ninh Tien commune, Ninh Binh city) has been restless all week because his family's 6 hectares of rice fields have been damaged after sowing for the third time. Being so impatient, in recent days, he has had to use the engine of a cage machine to convert it into a pump to pump water day and night from his family's rice fields into ditches in the hope that the water will soon recede so that he can continue sowing in the next 1-2 days.

Nearly 400 kg of rice seeds were considered to have been dumped into the river or the sea, not to mention the cost of plowing, fertilizer and all the other labor. However, farming is not without risks, so I bought seeds, soaked them, and determined to cover the entire area.

Mr. Huy's determination to overcome difficulties and cover the entire area is also the determination of the entire agricultural sector, localities, and farmers in the province at this time. In the past 2 days, taking advantage of the rain, in all the fields, people have been working diligently day and night, some tilling the land, leveling the fields, others pruning, fertilizing, sowing... Home yards and roads are used for planting seedlings.

According to information from the Irrigation Department, in recent days, more than 200 pumps at all pumping stations have been operating at full capacity, and many works and culverts under the dike have also been put into operation. In difficult conditions, many cooperatives and farmers have had to use additional makeshift pumping stations, electric pumps, and oil pumps to save rice. Thanks to that, as of July 25, the entire province has basically drained almost all flooded areas.

In order to focus on promptly overcoming the impact caused by heavy rains and ensuring the completion of the 2024 crop production plan, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requests districts and cities to urgently guide people on technical measures to restore production. For rice, areas that have not been planted yet must drain water, focus on land preparation, speed up the sowing and planting progress, and strive to complete sowing and planting in July 2024.

Flooded rice fields that can recover after the water recedes should be cleaned, excess seedlings and spare seedlings should be used to ensure density, and absolutely no nitrogen fertilizer or fertilizers with nitrogen content should be applied immediately. After 2-3 days, add 5-7 kg of superphosphate/sao to stimulate root growth, helping the plant recover quickly. When the plant has new leaves, add 2-3 kg of urea fertilizer/sao. At the same time, closely monitor and promptly prevent golden apple snails and harmful rats.

For newly sown rice areas that are crowded, have seedlings washed away, or newly planted rice areas that are flooded and cannot recover, people are instructed to proactively use short-term varieties such as Khang Dan 18, Bac Thom No. 7, QR1... to replant.

Due to the forecast of continued rain, localities should limit the use of direct sowing, focusing on using the seedling sowing method for planting, striving to plant the entire area as planned.

For early-season rice areas that are less affected by flooding, farmers need to take advantage of favorable weather and focus on fertilizing so that the rice plants can tiller and grow and develop smoothly.

For crops, urgently drain water from flooded areas; conduct hoeing, breaking the crust, and hilling the soil, combined with adding 5-7 kg of superphosphate/sao to the planted area to stimulate root development, helping the plants recover quickly. After that, continue to care according to the technical process. Continue to plant seasonal crops, ensuring that the plan is achieved.

It is forecasted that in the coming time, the North will likely receive more widespread heavy rains in late July and early August. Therefore, it requires the agricultural sector, localities and farmers to closely monitor weather developments, proactively and prepare measures to respond to adverse developments caused by weather and pests.

Nguyen Luu-Anh Tuan