However, alongside weather conditions favorable for harmful organisms, the situation regarding pests and diseases, particularly rice blast, is showing a rapid upward trend in both affected area and severity.

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province sowed over 9,778 hectares of rice for the 2025-2026 Winter-Spring crop. Currently, the early rice is in the booting to late booting stage, the main crop is in the jointing to booting stage, and the late crop is in the jointing stage. This is a sensitive growth period that is easily impacted by adverse factors, especially pests and diseases.

Since the beginning of March, weather conditions have shifted in a direction that favors the development of harmful organisms. Notably, leaf blast is causing damage over a wide area, with a total infected area of 711 hectares, an increase of more than 432 hectares compared to the same period last year. Within this, 43.81 hectares are heavily infected, primarily concentrated on rice varieties such as Séng cù, Đài thơm, J02, and certain glutinous rice varieties. These outbreaks have appeared in many localities including Búng Lao, Mường Ảng, Sam Mứn, Thanh Nưa, and Thanh An.

Furthermore, the period from now until the end of April marks a seasonal transition, which may bring extreme weather patterns like thunderstorms, whirlwinds, hailstorms, and intense heat. These conditions coincide with the rice heading and flowering stages, creating an ideal environment for various pests to emerge and thrive.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment assesses that in the coming time, populations of planthoppers, rice blast, sheath blight, and bacterial leaf blight will continue to increase. In particular, neck blast poses a risk of emerging and causing severe damage during the heading stage, which directly affects the grain-filling rate and final yield. Based on this, the department has issued numerous directives and guidelines for specialized units and local authorities to implement pest control measures.

Trần Sỹ Quân, Deputy Head of the Agricultural Department, stated that the unit continues to closely monitor weather developments and coordinate with localities for field inspections to promptly propose measures against water shortages and pests. There is also an emphasis on strengthening investigation and forecasting to zone off pests for effective control. One of the central tasks currently is ensuring irrigation water for production, requiring localities to build reasonable water regulation plans that prioritize areas at risk of shortage during the heading and flowering stages. Additionally, authorities are promoting water conservation and the protection of hydraulic structures among the public.

Regarding pest control, technical sectors recommend that farmers closely monitor their fields and identify specific pests to apply appropriate measures. For early and main-crop rice, the focus should be on planthoppers and spraying for neck blast at the correct times, specifically when the rice is just beginning to head and after heading. For bacterial leaf blight, farmers should stop applying nitrogen fertilizer and growth stimulants while maintaining proper water levels in the fields. For late-crop rice, monitoring should continue for small leaf folders and planthoppers through mid-May, with an emphasis on balanced fertilization to limit pest outbreaks. Crucially, the use of pesticides must strictly adhere to the “4 Rights” principle to ensure effectiveness and environmental safety.

In Thanh An commune, where nearly 925 hectares of rice were sowed this season, the area infected with leaf and leaf-collar blast has reached 92.5 hectares. While most cases are light to moderate, the infection rate in some specific locations has reached as high as 70%. To respond to this, Tòng Trung Chuyển, Deputy Director of the Thanh An Commune General Service Center, noted that the center has increased field inspections and advised residents to visit their fields frequently to handle pests promptly, especially in high-risk areas where excessive nitrogen was applied or where susceptible varieties like Séng cù and Hana are planted.

Farmers have also raised their awareness regarding crop protection. Lò Văn Hòa, a resident of Noong Ứng village in Thanh An commune, sowed over 1,500 square meters of Đài thơm rice. He frequently visits his fields to monitor pests and ensure timely treatment. He shared that while leaf blast is in its final stage, the risk of neck blast during the heading stage is very high, prompting his family to proactively spray preventive treatments according to the instructions of technical officers.

Faced with challenges from both weather and pests, proactive monitoring and the synchronized implementation of control measures are key factors in protecting the area and yield of the Winter-Spring rice. With the active involvement of specialized sectors, local authorities, and farmers, the crop stages will be well-controlled to minimize damage and move toward a successful harvest.