Low rice prices for the Summer–Autumn crop make it difficult for Hậu Giang to increase the Autumn–Winter crop area.

Due to rice lodging and flooding, traders have abandoned deposits and refused to purchase, or if they do purchase, the price is very low, only from VND 3,500–4,000 per kg of paddy. At the same time, enterprise-backed rice procurement during the Summer–Autumn crop of 2019 has declined.

To date, farmers in Hậu Giang Province have harvested more than 40,000 ha out of a total of over 78,000 ha of Summer–Autumn rice in 2019, with yields ranging from 3.5–6.5 tons/ha.

Many rice areas recorded low yields due to damage caused by rain and strong winds leading to lodging and pre-harvest sprouting, with estimated yield losses of 5–30%.

At the same time, farm-gate rice prices remain low, at only VND 3,500–5,500 per kg.

According to Mr. Nguyễn Văn Kính – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vị Thủy Commune, many Summer–Autumn rice areas in the locality were lodged due to prolonged rain and whirlwinds, making harvesting difficult. Many rice fields saw a significant decline in yield.

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Due to rice lodging and flooding, traders have abandoned deposits and refused to purchase, or if they do purchase, prices are very low, only VND 3,500–4,000 per kg.

The selling price of freshly harvested paddy at the field for the medium-quality rice group in Hậu Giang is only VND 3,500–4,100 per kg. For the high-quality rice group, prices range from VND 3,600–4,500 per kg, which is VND 300–500 per kg lower than the same period last year, said Ms. Nguyễn Thị Giang, Head of the Planning and Finance Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hậu Giang Province.

Meanwhile, enterprise-backed rice procurement during the Summer–Autumn crop of 2019 has decreased compared to the Winter–Spring crop of 2018–2019. The contracted area was only over 2,500 ha, accounting for more than 3% of the province’s total rice area. Farmers mainly had to sell rice to traders.

Production costs for the Summer–Autumn rice crop of 2019 increased by more than VND 68.86 per kg compared to the Summer–Autumn crop of 2018, causing many rice growers in Hậu Giang to face difficulties and lose interest in rice cultivation.

Therefore, in the upcoming Autumn–Winter rice crop of 2019, the province plans to sow 39,000 ha, an increase of 2,000 ha compared to the plan; however, this is difficult to achieve because Summer–Autumn rice prices in 2019 remain low, and farmers are not enthusiastic about growing rice.

Although Hậu Giang has nearly 50,000 ha of fully enclosed dike systems ensuring proactive Autumn–Winter rice production ahead of floods, many localities say it is difficult to increase the cultivated area.

https://www.vietnamplus.vn/gia-lua-he-thu-thap-hau-giang-kho-tang-dien-tich-vu-thu-dong/583749.vnp