Farmers worry about losing money and getting sick because stink bugs attack rice

    Lục Tùng - Phong Linh |

    Mekong Delta - Farmers in the country's rice granary are worried about the possibility of "losing money and getting sick" when stink bugs attack rice plants on a large scale.

    Nhung ngay dau thang 10, Bao Lao Dong nhan duoc thong tin cua nong dan, can bo nganh nong nghiep ve viec day dac bo xit hoi tan cong tren ruong lua vung Tu giac Long Xuyen. Ngay lap tuc, chung toi co mat tai huyen Hon Dat, tinh Kien Giang - dia phuong giap ranh voi tinh An Giang, de tac nghiep hien truong. Theo ghi nhan, mot goc canh dong o ap Lang Com (xa Binh Giang), lua dang trong giai doan ngam sua da bi bo xit hoi tan cong nang.
    In early October, Lao Dong Newspaper received information from farmers and agricultural officials about the dense stink bug attack on rice fields in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle. We immediately went to Hon Dat District, Kien Giang Province - a locality bordering An Giang Province, to work on the scene. Image of a corner of a field in Lang Com Hamlet (Binh Giang Commune) heavily attacked by stink bugs.
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    Old farmer Huynh Van Co (in blue shirt) said that the density of stink bugs that harm rice has increased very high, causing a decrease in yield of 30-40%, and in some fields over 50%. Not only causing empty grains, stink bugs that harm rice also reduce the quality of rice grains, so traders only agree to buy at low prices.
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    Close-up of stink bugs sucking and directly affecting rice grains.
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    Close-up of the adult stink bug, which is yellow-green mixed with brown and has a very unpleasant odor.
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    Rice grains will be completely empty after being attacked by insects.
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    "The stink bug attack was so fierce that we had to quickly sell the rice in the field early. But after visiting the field, we saw that the rice had many empty grains, so the traders refused to accept the old price. Meanwhile, the unusual rain and wind at this time, and the pressure to pay investment costs... put us farmers in a situation where we had no choice but to sell the rice at any price," Mr. Co shared.
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    At his family's rice field, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Trung (right) also has a headache because the rice was sown late, and there is a possibility that stink bugs will migrate in larger numbers when the surrounding fields are harvested. At that time, the level of damage will likely increase, even total loss. Image of Mr. Trung's family and agricultural technicians visiting the rice field.
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    Rice flowers are sucked of nutrients by stink bugs and gradually lose their vitality.
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    The rice grains begin to turn color, with brown spots.
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    "After decades of farming, I have never seen an insect as difficult to treat as the stink bug. I really hope the agricultural sector will find a solution and research a specific medicine. Even if the price is a bit high, we will still buy it and use it," said Mr. Trinh Tai Sang (Lang Com hamlet, Binh Giang commune).
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    Speaking to Lao Dong, Master Nguyen Phuoc Tuyen - former Director of the Agricultural Extension Center of Dong Thap province - said that stink bugs are sucking insects, classified as secondary. Just understanding their biological characteristics is enough to control them. Because this species can fly, farmers should spray pesticides early in the morning, before 8 o'clock. At this time, the dew is still wet on the wings, stink bugs move slowly, which will help spray pesticides effectively and save costs.
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    From the story of small insects that cause great concern to farmers, Master Nguyen Phuoc Tuyen acknowledged: "It is unfortunate that currently, when an epidemic occurs, we see very little information from the authorities to guide farmers about specific drugs as well as spraying measures to reduce the possibility of pesticide residues remaining in rice grains. I think it is time for us to consider a fundamental and scientific prevention strategy."

    According to some farmers and agricultural officials, stink bugs are currently not only appearing and causing damage to rice in Luong An Tra and O Lam communes (Tri Ton district, An Giang province) but also spreading to many localities in the Mekong Delta, which is known as the country's rice granary.

    Lục Tùng - Phong Linh
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