Cat Tien 3 races against time to save the rice harvest

Making the most of every sunny hour

Prolonged rain accompanied by strong winds in recent days has flooded and flattened large areas of summer-autumn rice in Cat Tien 3 Commune. In low-lying areas, slow drainage has made harvesting and transporting rice particularly difficult.

In the fields of Trung Hung Village, numerous combine harvesters have been operating continuously from early morning until late afternoon. Fields with mature rice are being prioritized to reduce the risk of further flooding and lodging as the rainy weather persists.

The family of Dinh Trung Ta, a resident of Trung Hung Village, has rice fields affected by heavy rain. As soon as the crop reached an appropriate level of maturity, the family proactively hired a combine harvester to bring in the crop early.

Ta said that leaving the rice in the fields amid continued rain and strong winds could cause further lodging, reducing yields, complicating harvesting and increasing labor costs.

Trung Hung Village currently has about 250 hectares of summer-autumn rice. Initial inspections show that heavy rain and strong winds have affected approximately 13 hectares.

Nong Van Ho, head of Trung Hung Village, said local officials have regularly inspected the fields and encouraged farmers to harvest mature rice wherever machinery can access the fields. More than 50 hectares have been harvested so far.

According to Ho, weather conditions have changed rapidly in recent days, with sunny mornings often followed by heavy rain in the late afternoon and evening. Taking advantage of every favorable window has therefore become critical to minimizing losses.

With the weather conditions remaining unpredictable, local authorities are stepping up efforts to direct and support farmers in accelerating the harvest and minimizing damage.

According to the Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee, farmers planted 853 hectares of summer-autumn rice this year. About 178 hectares have been harvested, while approximately 622 hectares are fully mature and another 53 hectares remain at the heading and milk stages.

Nguyen Dinh Lap, Vice Chairman of the Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee, said the locality is taking decisive measures to accelerate the summer-autumn rice harvest and proactively respond to adverse weather conditions.

The commune authorities have instructed specialized agencies and village heads to regularly monitor the fields, update information on storms and heavy rainfall, and promptly guide farmers in implementing measures to protect their crops.

The Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee has instructed villages to prioritize harvesting fields where 80-85% or more of the rice has matured, particularly in low-lying areas at high risk of flooding.

For fields where the rice remains green, farmers are advised to continue crop care, clear drainage channels, improve water drainage and raise lodged rice plants to minimize damage.

The commune's Economic Division has been assigned to closely monitor weather developments and regularly update forecasts and warnings issued by meteorological and hydrological agencies. It will also coordinate with the commune's General Services Center to guide farmers in accelerating the harvest and promptly report emerging difficulties for the commune authorities to address.

The urgent harvesting effort will not only help farmers reduce losses caused by storms and heavy rain and void additional costs, but also contribute to safeguarding agricultural production in Cat Tien's key rice-growing area.

Protecting the rice, preserving the harvest

According to Nguyen Dinh Lap, Vice Chairman of the Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee, harvesting the rice does not necessarily mean the crop has been fully secured. Under prolonged wet weather, post-harvest handling and storage are crucial to preserving grain quality.

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We are determined not to let storms and heavy rain wipe out the results of our farmers' hard work. The commune is mobilizing every available resource to protect the harvest.

Nguyen Dinh Lap, Vice Chairman of the Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee

The commune authorities therefore recommend that farmers transport harvested rice to collection points as quickly as possible. When sunshine is available, the rice should be dried immediately or sent for mechanical drying to ensure uniform moisture levels.

After drying, the rice should be cleaned, bagged and stored in a dry, well-ventilated place. Bags should be raised above the floor and kept away from damp ground and rainwater to prevent germination, fermentation and mold growth, which can reduce the value of the agricultural product.

The Cat Tien 3 Commune People's Committee has instructed the General Services Center to provide technical guidance on harvesting, drying and post-harvest storage, while monitoring pests and crop diseases so farmers can take timely action when necessary.

The center is also reviewing and coordinating the deployment of combine harvesters and transport vehicles, while encouraging local service providers to support farmers and refrain from arbitrarily increasing service prices during the peak harvest period.

At the same time, the commune's public broadcasting system is continuously airing weather forecasts, technical recommendations and official guidance so residents can proactively respond to storms and heavy rain.

Local organizations and community groups are also helping disadvantaged households harvest and transport their rice.

Amid unpredictable spells of sunshine and rain, every truckload of rice safely brought home represents another part of the farmers' hard-earned harvest saved — helping ease the burden of protecting Cat Tien's golden rice fields through the storms.

Hoang Sa