Flexibility in winter crop production

To compensate for losses in agricultural production caused by storm No. 3 in the 2024 winter crop, localities need to focus on expanding the planting area, arranging appropriate crop timing and variety structure, and synchronously applying technical measures to increase productivity and output; at the same time, promoting linkages to create more economic value for farmers, especially areas damaged by rain and floods...

Hung Ha farmers grow winter corn.

Winter crop production plays an important role, taking advantage of the production area to contribute to increasing people's income, ensuring local food needs, serving livestock. In particular, winter crops have a very potential consumer market, many types can be processed for export such as potatoes, tomatoes, baby melons, peppers, sweet corn, soybeans... Therefore, for many years, localities in the province have always focused on winter crop production.

Striving to reach 180 hectares of winter crop area, these days, farmers in An Chau commune (Dong Hung) are urgently harvesting the rice crop, making beds to plant melons and squash. Because of their extensive experience in agricultural production, every year, people in the commune are always proactive in planting, selecting seeds, sowing squash... applying techniques to farming to increase productivity and quality of agricultural products.

Growing 1.5 hectares of cucumbers and pumpkins in the winter crop, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, An Lap village said: Growing melons and pumpkins is hard at first because of having to regularly check for and eliminate some insects and pests, but it has a short growing period, high yield, and economic efficiency 3-4 times higher than rice cultivation. After harvesting rice, we rent a plow to make ridges, add manure, and place the previously sown pots on the banks. Melons and pumpkins are grown in the dry winter crop, so there is no need to make a trellis, so the plants can grow out of the field.

With the characteristics of geographical location, soil, and production level of each region, each locality in the province is choosing a suitable direction to increase the value of winter crop production. Therefore, concentrated and specialized production areas are prioritized by localities for cultivation with advantages, such as: corn, soybeans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, various vegetables and beans... In 2024, Vu Thu district strives to cultivate 5,300 hectares of winter crops. Of which, corn is 700 hectares; potatoes are 350 hectares; melons and squash are 300 hectares; sweet potatoes are 200 hectares; vegetables of all kinds are 3,750 hectares.

Mr. Bui Gia Khanh, Deputy Head of the District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: To encourage people to produce, the district has a support mechanism for two main crops: glutinous corn and potatoes. Accordingly, individuals and households buying glutinous corn seeds through agricultural cooperatives to plant 2 hectares or more on fertile land, 1 hectare on land after harvesting the winter-spring rice crop will be supported with 3,360,000 VND/ha, equivalent to 120,000 VND/sao, seed quantity of 14 kg/ha; buying imported potato seeds to plant the winter-spring crop through agricultural cooperatives in the communes of Vu Tien, Nguyen Xa, Song An, Minh Quang, Tan Phong, Tan Hoa, Phuc Thanh, Song Lang will be supported with 10,080,000 VND/ha, equivalent to 360,000 VND/sao, seed quantity of 1,120 kg/ha. In addition, implementing the province's support mechanism for winter crop production and overcoming damage caused by storm No. 3 and rain and floods, the district is compiling registrations for support for potato and waxy corn seeds from localities. It is expected that the whole district will expand about 200 hectares of corn and 50 hectares of potatoes to compensate for damage and impacts caused by storms and floods. The district directs communes to urge people to urgently harvest rice and plant winter crops when the weather is favorable.

Winter crop production in recent years has often encountered many difficulties due to unfavorable weather, affecting people's psychology in investing in intensive farming and expanding acreage. This year, the whole province strives to plant over 36,600 hectares of various winter crops. To compensate for agricultural production losses caused by storm No. 3, the 2024 winter crop, localities need to focus on expanding the planting area, arranging appropriate crop timing and variety structure, and synchronously applying technical measures to increase productivity and output; at the same time, promoting linkages to create more economic value for farmers, especially areas damaged by rain and floods... The Provincial People's Committee has decided to support funding for developing winter crop production in 2024 and overcoming damage caused by storm No. 3 and rain and floods with a support level of 500,000 VND/ha.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: In order to achieve the set target for winter crop production, the agricultural sector requires localities to mobilize maximum means and human resources to quickly harvest ripe rice, and prepare the land for winter crop cultivation as soon as the harvest is completed. Make pots and nurse warm-loving winter crops, take advantage of potting them in the fields when the weather permits to plant them in the best time frame (before October 5); prepare seeds and select cold-loving crops with advantages in Thai Binh (potatoes, sweet radishes, cabbage, herbs, etc.) to plant to serve the domestic market and export. At the same time, review and maximize the planting area, prioritizing short-term crops that are ready for early harvest to serve daily needs, increase land use coefficient and income for people.