Farmers advised against planting seeds for summer-autumn crop

Located in the low-lying regions of Soc Trang province, the 2023 - 2024 winter-spring rice production area in Nga Nam town has been safely protected during the saltwater intrusion season. Local farmers are currently busy with the harvest season. Despite the slight decline in rice prices from the beginning of the crop, farmers enjoy an increase of 20 to 30 percent in profits compared to the previous winter-spring crop.

The rice fields of Ward 2 in Nga Nam town are currently busy with this year's winter-spring rice harvesting activities. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Chuc from Tan Thanh hamlet, Ward 2 recently finished harvesting his production area, with a reported yield of nearly 8 tons per hectare.

The ST25 rice variety is widely grown in this area. For this year's winter-spring crop, Mr. Chuc's family produced rice on an area of 1.3 hectares. Thanks to favorable weather and minimal pest infestations, the investment cost for this crop ranged from 20 to 30 million Vietnamese dong per hectare. With a purchase price of 8,600 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, the family earned profits ranging from 38 to 48 million Vietnamese dong per hectare after deducting expenses.

Mr. Tran Van Phung, also from the neighborhood, recently completed harvesting 1 hectare of ST25 rice, with profits equal to that of Mr. Chuc. According to Mr. Phung, the current rice price is significantly higher than that of previous years. Farmers in the area have gradually transitioned to sustainable rice farming with support and technical transfer from the local agricultural sector. Namely, local farmers have focused on using organic fertilizers and reducing the amount of seeds sowed, thereby cutting down on input costs and preventing harmful pests and diseases.

According to the Economic Department of Nga Nam town, local farmers have harvested over 16,300 hectares of 2023-2024 winter-spring rice so far, which is 88% of the production area, with a yield of 7.94 tons per hectare. The on-field prices of rice are at a high level thanks to favorable demand. Notably, fragrant rice varieties are priced at between 7,700 and 8,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, OM18 at between 7,700 and 8,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, RVT rice at between 8,100 and 8,300 Vietnamese dong per kilogram. Notably, the ST24 and ST25 rice varieties are priced the highest, at between 8,600 and 8,900 Vietnamese dong per kilogram.

Thanh Tri district in Soc Trang province is renowned for the Tai Nguyen rice variety, characterized by its delectable, fluffy, and soft grains. Farmers in Bao Cat hamlet, Hung Loi town, Thanh Tri district have recently finished harvesting the 2023-2024 winter-spring crop of Tai Nguyen rice, with an increase of 2,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram in rice prices compared to that of the previous year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ngot from Bao Cat hamlet, his family cultivated 3.5 hectares of Tai Nguyen rice during this crop with a selling price of up to 10,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram. After deducting expenses, the family's total profit amounted to nearly 200 million Vietnamese dong.

Reportedly, farmers in Thanh Tri district cultivated Tai Nguyen rice on over 43,000 hectares of winter-spring rice fields, with a total yield of 155,000 tons. Specialty rice accounts for nearly 60% of the total production area. Farmers in the district are expected to complete harvesting by the end of April.

According to Soc Trang province's Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, local farmers have cultivated over 182,000 hectares of winter-spring rice, with over 65% of the production area harvested, and an average yield of nearly 7 tons per hectare.

The prices for several rice varieties have increased by 50 to 100 Vietnamese dong per kilogram within the last week, namely the IR50404, OM5451, and ST varieties. Rice prices are typically priced at between 7,400 and 8,300 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, fragrant rice at between 8,000 and 8,400 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, and specialty rice at between 8,400 and 10,500 Vietnamese dong per kilogram.

Despite a bountiful and profitable winter-spring rice crop in Soc Trang province, the local Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection advised farmers in drought-affected and saline-intruded areas to refrain from planting the 2024 summer-autumn crop.

According to forecasts from the Mekong Delta water resources bulletin for production guidance and water management, the salinity levels in controlled areas of Soc Trang province may rise significantly from March to early April, reaching 4 grams per liter and intruding as deep as 50 to 60 kilometers inland. Crosswinds may allow saltwater to intrude an additional 5 to 7 kilometers beyond the forecast. This level of saltwater intrusion can impact both agricultural production and water supply in Soc Trang province.

Consequently, farmers are required to closely monitor weather developments and adhere to the seasonal schedules provided by local governments to mitigate potential losses for the upcoming summer-autumn crop.

According to the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research, as of March 15, nearly 196,000 hectares of production area for the 2024 late summer-autumn rice crop have been prepared in some provinces and cities such as Dong Thap, Long An, Tien Giang. A small portion of production area in Kien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho city are also ready for the next crop.

March and April mark the prominent saltwater intrusion season. As a result, local communities should consider reducing their production areas for the late summer-autumn crop during this timeframe.