Why is Dak Nong's largest rice granary congested with rice and grains?

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Mai Cong Hao - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Buon Choah commune (Krong No, Dak Nong) confirmed that there was a situation of rice being clogged with panicles and empty grains occurring in the Buon Choah rice fields.

Leaders of Buôn Choah Commune People's Committee inspected the fields of households suffering from rice crop congestion and empty grains. Photo: N.Giầu

Mr. Hao said that after receiving feedback from farmers, the Commune People's Committee inspected, counted and reported to the District People's Committee.

"The Department of Agricultural Development (Dak Nong Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) has presided over and coordinated with relevant units to determine the cause. After inspection, it was initially determined that due to the unusually hot weather during the flowering period, accompanied by strong winds, the rice pollination did not occur; because some areas were infected during the flowering period, people did not spray enough pesticides (mixed many types of pesticides), which affected the pollination process of the rice plants.

The fields of Buôn Choah commune are in harvest time.

Regarding rice seeds, people buy seeds in Dak Lak; some households reuse rice for seeds. However, through verification, specialized agencies do not confirm that the rice is defective due to the seeds. Currently, the authorities are directing the identification of the origin of the seeds to promptly inform the people.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Buôn Choah commune, the fields of Buôn Choah commune are in the harvest season. However, the inspection and synthesis of the reports from the villages show that the rice fields in Buôn Choah commune are clogged with flowers and have empty grains. Up to now, there are more than 221 hectares of rice with clogged flowers and empty grains. In addition, in Buôn Choah village, after using pesticides to nourish flowers and kill planthoppers, yellow leaves occurred on an area of 3.2 hectares.

Many rice-growing families in Buon Choah commune suffered crop losses because rice yields were not as high as in previous years.

Faced with the above situation, the Department of Agricultural Development of Dak Nong province also presided over and coordinated with relevant parties to conduct field inspections and work with a number of affected households.

Mr. Pham Nhu Thuan's family (Binh Giang village, Buon Choah commune) said that his family cultivates more than 8 hectares of rice, every year the average harvest is about 12 tons/ha, but this year it is only about 5-6 tons/ha.

"This year the weather is erratic, the temperature difference between day and night is large, leading to poor pollination of the rice, so productivity is affected," said Mr. Thuan.

Mr. Do Van Vu's household (Ninh Giang village, Buon Choah commune) has more than 1 hectare of rice, which is also suffering from clogged flowers and empty grains. Every year, they harvest 12-14 tons/ha, but this year they only get more than half...

Currently, more than 221 hectares of rice fields in Buon Choah commune have clogged flowers and empty grains.

Mr. Doan Gia Loc, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Krong No district, said that this year's weather is quite harsh, with strong winds and erratic high and low temperatures; when the rice plants flower, the local temperature fluctuates from 15-19oC, cold, affecting the pollination ability of the rice flowers. Some rice areas in the area are affected by water shortages...

The inspection team of the Dak Nong Province Department of Agricultural Development informed that at the time the rice was flowering, there was strong wind and cold at night, leading to the rice being stuck in the panicle, unable to flower and causing the grain to be empty.

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