• Farmers expect rice prices to continue to rise
  • Urgent harvest of summer-autumn rice in the rainy and stormy season

Ripe rice lies in the field waiting for traders

In the summer-autumn crop of 2025, Khanh Binh commune planted more than 6,000 hectares of rice. Currently in the harvest season, but contrary to the joy of a good harvest, many farmers are worried when the price of fresh rice in the field suddenly dropped sharply by 1,000-2,000 VND/kg compared to the same period last year.

Many rice fields are ready for harvest but have not found traders yet.

Not only have prices fallen, many fields are still unable to find buyers for harvest. The continuous heavy rains in recent days have increased the risk of rice falling over and causing serious damage.

“ My family planted more than 20 hectares of rice. At the beginning of the season, traders bought it for about 7,000 VND/kg, now it is only 5,000-5,500 VND/kg, the lowest price in the past two years. The rice fields have been over 110 days but have not been harvested yet. When contacting traders, we only received promises,” said Mr. Tran Hoang Khiem, Lung Ba hamlet, Khanh Binh commune.

Not only Mr. Khiem, many farming households in Khanh Binh commune are also in a similar situation. While the costs of fertilizers, pesticides, and machine rentals have all increased, the price of rice has plummeted. People calculate that if the situation continues, this crop will be considered unprofitable.

Rice purchasing boats are sparse even though it is the peak of the summer-autumn rice harvest.

Mr. Lam Trong Nghia, also from Lung Ba hamlet, shared: “At the beginning of the season, I bought rice seeds for more than 8,000 VND/kg. After sowing for more than 20 days, the rain continued, I had to pump out water, incurring more costs. When it was time to harvest, it rained again, the rice collapsed, the price of renting a cutting machine increased. This season, my family just hopes to get back the capital.”

New rice varieties – traders refuse to buy

According to statistics from Khanh Binh Commune People's Committee, this summer-autumn crop, HB1 rice variety accounts for more than 95% of the cultivated area. However, paradoxically, traders are currently mainly purchasing OM18, Dai Thom 8, ST24, ST25 varieties, while HB1 rice is only paid about 5,500 VND/kg, and some places do not even purchase it, causing great difficulties for farmers.

HB1 rice variety accounts for more than 95% of the sown area in Khanh Binh commune.

Ms. Tu Hong Ut, Lung Ba hamlet, said: “The HB1 rice variety was introduced in the summer-autumn crop last year, with high yields, and traders bought it for up to 9,000 VND/kg. Seeing the effectiveness, this year people planted it all at once, but when it came to harvesting, traders complained that the rice was not of good quality. In fields with good rice, they gave the excuse that they did not have means of transportation or could not find a market.”

From believing in new varieties with the expectation of "good harvest, good price", now Khanh Binh farmers are in a situation where the rice is ripe but it is difficult to find an outlet, at risk of heavy losses.

Build tents to save rice

Unable to find traders, many households in Khanh Binh commune have had to set up tents and prepare drying yards to limit post-harvest losses. From the expectation of a successful crop in terms of yield and selling price, farmers are now facing the reality of a sharp drop in rice prices, the risk of losses, even total loss.

Farmers set up tents and prepare drying yards to protect rice from the risk of germination due to prolonged rain.

Mr. Pham Van Ly, Head of Lung Ba Hamlet, said: "In the past few days, people have set up tents and prepared drying yards so that if traders continue to not buy, there will still be a place to dry, avoiding the situation of rice germinating, causing more serious damage."

According to the plan, the remaining summer-autumn rice area in Khanh Binh commune will enter the peak harvest season in the coming days. If prices continue to fall and traders do not purchase, the rice in the fields may germinate, the quality may decrease, making the already difficult output even more difficult.

Khanh Binh Commune People's Committee proactively coordinated with pumping station operators to protect rice from the risk of flooding.

“ The locality is urgently contacting purchasing units to support output, ensuring the best price for people. At the same time, the commune is also coordinating with units to operate the entire pumping station, limit local flooding, and minimize damage,” said Mr. Dang Chi Nguyen, Chairman of Khanh Binh Commune People's Committee.

Hong Nghi - Tien Luan

Source: https://baocamau.vn/gia-lua-lao-doc-nong-dan-dung-ngoi-khong-yen-a121682.html