Rushing to Harvest the Late Winter–Spring Rice Crop

Strong yields despite market pressure

The winter–spring crop, the most important rice season of the year, has delivered strong yields thanks to stable irrigation and lower pest incidence. Key growing areas such as Tanh Linh, Bac Ruong and Dong Kho have reported particularly favorable results.

According to farmers who have completed harvesting, average yields this season reached around 8 tons per hectare, with some fields achieving up to 10 tons per hectare.

Harvesting activities remained intense even during the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1) holidays, with combine harvesters and tractors operating continuously across fields.

Farmer Le Minh Ky, cultivating nearly 2 hectares of ST25 rice, reported yields of about 800 kilograms per 1,000 square meters, attributing the outcome to synchronized planting schedules and reliable irrigation that minimized pest outbreaks. Similarly, Nguyen Thi Tam harvested 9 hectares of OM18 rice, achieving approximately 1 ton per 1,000 square meters. Both noted that yields exceeded previous seasons.

However, the long-standing challenge of “good harvest, low price” persisted. At the beginning of the harvest, fresh paddy prices ranged from 5,400 to 5,700 VND per kilogram—down from over 6,000 VND a year earlier—leaving farmers with minimal profits. Toward the end of the season, prices rose slightly to around 6,200 VND per kilogram, offering some relief.

According to Tran Duc Thien, Deputy Head of the provincial Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, total rice cultivation area for the 2025–2026 winter–spring crop reached 55,320 hectares, mainly in the southeastern region. Average yields are estimated at 66.5 quintals per hectare, while total output is projected at approximately 367,880 tons, up about 2,000 tons from the previous year.

Rising costs weigh on farmers

Despite strong productivity, rising input costs have significantly eroded farmers’ earnings. Expenses for fuel, harvesting and land preparation have all increased.

Nguyen Van Danh, a farmer in Ham Liem commune, said harvesting costs have risen from 250,000 to 300,000 VND per 1,000 square meters, while plowing costs increased from 150,000 to 170,000 VND. Fertilizer prices have also surged, placing additional financial strain on growers.

Danh’s family, cultivating 5,000 square meters, reported losses this season due to poor-quality seeds and pest damage. He is now using machinery to collect straw and prepare fields for the next crop.

Preparing for the summer–autumn crop

Agricultural authorities are urging farmers to complete harvesting quickly and carry out field sanitation to prevent pest outbreaks, while preparing land for the upcoming summer–autumn crop.

With hot and dry weather conditions expected, farmers are advised to monitor pests such as brown planthoppers, thrips, stem borers, leaf rollers and rodents, which may continue to spread.

As the next crop coincides with the peak dry season, local authorities are assessing water availability in reservoirs and rivers to define suitable cultivation zones and identify drought-prone areas.

For areas lacking sufficient irrigation, farmers are encouraged to switch to short-duration, drought-resistant crops such as vegetables, flowers or root crops. Planting schedules are being adjusted to ensure the summer–autumn crop is sown before June 30.

The transition marks a critical period for farmers, balancing the end of one productive season with the uncertainties of weather, water supply and market conditions ahead.