Yen Khanh Bustling harvest day

These days, it is not difficult to see the bustling harvest atmosphere in Yen Khanh throughout the countryside. The image of harvesters working at full capacity to harvest rice for the people in the area ensures that the ripe rice is harvested quickly to free up land for crop production.

Standing on the bank waiting for the harvester to finish and then transport the rice home, Mr. Pham Van Dang in Hamlet 3, Khanh Cong Commune excitedly said: This crop, my family planted 1.2 hectares with Dai Thom No. 8 variety. After just over 1 hour, the entire rice area of the family was harvested, with an estimated yield of 2.5 quintals/sao. In previous crops with this area, the rice had to be planted in 3 or 4 plots, so the harvest was more difficult and the yield was only 2.2 quintals/sao. Not only was the harvest good, but this year the price was also good, so we were very happy and excited, and had more motivation to confidently stick with agriculture. In particular, implementing land consolidation and plot exchange, the family has now consolidated from 3 or 4 plots to 1 plot, which is convenient for planting, caring for and quickly harvesting the rice area. After the harvest, my family will clear the fields, free up the land to shift focus to the summer-autumn crop.

In the 2024 winter-spring crop, Khanh Cong commune planted 419 hectares, with varieties such as Dai Thom 8, LT2, fragrant sticky rice, and various types of sticky rice. By June 5, the commune had harvested 90% of the area, with an estimated yield of 63.5 hectares. Not only was the harvest good, but this year, people were also happy and excited when the rice price was good. This is completely different from many previous crops, which often had "good harvest, low price", "good price, bad harvest". Especially in recent years, the price of materials and fertilizers has increased by one and a half times, double compared to before, causing many crops to suffer losses. Therefore, this winter-spring crop has a good harvest and good price, creating great motivation for farmers to stick with the fields, contributing to ensuring food security and social security. Khanh Cong strives to finish harvesting rice by June 7 and prepare conditions for crop production.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chuyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Khanh Cong Agricultural Cooperative, said: Strictly implementing the direction of the district and commune on crop structure, the entire rice area of the commune was planted before Tet. The work of estimating, forecasting, and preventing pests and diseases is also regularly monitored by professional staff, closely following the fields to promptly handle them so that pests and diseases do not arise and spread widely, affecting productivity and quality. Therefore, this year's winter-spring crop continues to have a good harvest and good price. In addition, in recent years, the Cooperative has also paid special attention to finding outlets for agricultural products by signing contracts with businesses to purchase a portion of agricultural products for farmers, helping farmers feel secure in agricultural production.

Leaving Khanh Cong, we arrived at Khanh Trung commune, where we saw golden rice fields in harvest time, heavy rice stalks, and harvesters working at full capacity to quickly harvest the rice, minimizing damage caused by weather effects.

On an area of over 1 hectare planted with Huong Com rice variety that is starting to yield harvest, Ms. Vu Thi Khuyen in village 7, Khanh Trung commune happily said: This is the 4th year that her family has signed a contract with Cuong Tan Company (Nam Dinh city) to purchase all the rice after harvest. During the crop season, the Company sends staff to monitor and guide people on the process of caring for and preventing pests and diseases in an organic way, so the quality of the rice is good. This year we are very happy because not only is there a good harvest but also a good price. Currently, the Company buys at the field after harvest at a price of 8,200 VND/kg.

Yen Khanh Bustling harvest day — Localities of Yen Khanh district focus on harvesting winter-spring rice.

Mr. Pham Van Hoi, Vice Chairman of Khanh Trung Commune People's Committee, said: With an area of over 630 hectares of rice planted with varieties such as Dai Thon 8, Bac Thon So 7, Khang Dan, Huong Binh, Huong Com. This crop, the commune continues to mobilize people to maintain and expand the area of tray sowing, machine planting accounts for 40% and continue to maintain more than 200 hectares of organic rice cultivation. This is a rice crop that is assessed to continue to be a good crop in the locality, with an estimated yield of 68 quintals/ha. To ensure the quick harvest of the rice area, agricultural cooperatives have proactively signed contracts with harvester owners to arrange reasonable time, taking advantage of the clear weather to concentrate human resources and machinery to harvest quickly. By June 5, the commune had harvested 40% of the area, expected to complete the rice harvest on June 10.

This winter-spring crop, Yen Khanh district planted more than 7,200 hectares of spring rice. Although production encountered difficulties at the beginning of the season due to severe cold weather, pests and diseases broke out at the end of the season causing widespread damage. However, thanks to the drastic direction of production and proactive restructuring of the agricultural sector, localities and basic production targets all met and exceeded the plan.

Comrade Nguyen Manh Toan, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Khanh district, said: Currently, many rice fields have ripened, if harvested late, in heavy rain, they will easily fall and be flooded, affecting productivity and quality. Therefore, localities and farmers need to focus on harvesting on sunny days so as not to affect productivity and ensure the time frame for crop production; urgently mobilize machinery and labor to harvest spring rice when the maturity reaches 80% or more with the motto "greener at home than ripe in the field", not allowing the situation of ripe rice not being harvested in time, leading to damage caused by late-season thunderstorms. Collect straw as soon as it is harvested for compost, limiting the burning of straw in the fields. By June 5, the whole district had harvested more than 50% of the rice area, the district strives to complete the rice harvest by June 10.

According to the Deputy Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with the spring rice harvest, the district also directed people to actively prepare conditions for the production of the crop according to plan, recommending that after harvesting, people organize field sanitation, get water, plow the soil, use biological products to treat stubble to avoid organic poisoning causing root suffocation for the crop. Agricultural cooperatives are requested to sign contracts with reputable companies to supply quality agricultural varieties and materials, and at the same time recommending that people use new varieties and fertilizers on the list of circulation to ensure production, absolutely do not use varieties not on the list when not yet recognized for production as well as pesticides not on the list.

Trucks carrying the 2024 winter-spring rice crop run smoothly on the country roads with bright smiles and joy of a good harvest clearly visible on every farmer's face. Another bumper crop season helps Yen Khanh people become more attached to their fields.

Article and photos: Hong Nhung

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