'Greener at home than in the fields' Nghe An farmers urgently harvest summer-autumn rice to avoid storm No. 5

With the forecast of storm No. 5 about to make landfall, with the motto "green house is better than old field", farmers are actively racing to harvest rice to avoid damage caused by storm No. 5.

Clip: Van Truong

From early morning on August 24, in Quan Thanh and Yen Thanh communes (old Yen Thanh district), a series of combine harvesters were mobilized and operated continuously throughout the fields. Without waiting for the rice to fully ripen, people prioritized harvesting areas that were 75% or more ripe, in order to minimize damage caused by storms and rains.

Farmers harvest summer-autumn rice while fleeing floods in Quang Chau commune. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nam, hamlet 9, Quan Thanh commune said: "My family's field is located in a low-lying area, the rice is only 80% ripe but we have to harvest early, if the storm comes, it will be a total loss. The whole hamlet is trying to save every hour before the rain and wind come."

Vice Chairman of Quan Thanh Commune People's Committee, Mr. Cao Xuan Toan informed: The commune has more than 1,142 hectares of summer-autumn rice, has mobilized 5 harvesters in a rolling form, prioritizing low-lying areas prone to flooding.

Urgently harvesting rice to avoid storm No. 5 in Quan Thanh commune. Photo: Van Truong

In Hop Minh commune, not far away, more than 700 hectares out of a total of 2,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice have been harvested. Meanwhile, in Quang Chau commune (Dien Thai commune, old Dien Chau district), it started to rain sporadically on the afternoon of August 24, but the harvesters were still working at full capacity in the fields. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hai, a farmer in Quang Chau commune, shared: "The rice is only 75% ripe, but I still harvested it right away. I lost some yield, but it's better than losing everything if the storm comes. Today, I will finish harvesting 5 sao of rice to bring it home safely."

Although it rained lightly on the afternoon of August 24, people still harvested rice. Photo: Van Truong

Ms. Dinh Thi Trang, Head of the Economic Department of Quang Chau Commune, said that the commune currently has 850 hectares of summer-autumn rice. Before the storm, the commune advised people to harvest rice that was 80-85% ripe. We have mobilized 4 harvesters to serve low-lying areas such as the old Dien Thai commune. By the afternoon of August 24, more than 40 hectares had been harvested. However, this year's yield was only about 5 tons/ha, down from previous years due to the impact of brown planthoppers and leaf rollers.

Farmers urgently bring rice home. Photo: Van Truong

Ms. Vo Thi Nhung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment said: "Nghe An has more than 75,292 hectares of summer-autumn rice. Facing the risk of direct impact from storm No. 5, according to quick statistics, by the afternoon of August 24, the whole province had harvested about 1,700 hectares of summer-autumn rice. However, more than 44,215 hectares of rice are in the heading stage, if there is heavy rain combined with strong winds, the risk of falling and flooding is very high, especially in low-lying areas.

AD Advertising

Source: https://baonghean.vn/xanh-nha-hon-gia-dong-nong-dan-nghe-an-khan-truong-thu-hoach-lua-he-thu-chay-bao-so-5-10305125.html