Storms and floods cause serious damage

In the 2024 Summer-Autumn Crop, Hanoi will plant more than 93,000 hectares of rice, crops, fruit trees, flowers and ornamental plants of all kinds. The recent storm and flood caused heavy rain and strong winds, seriously affecting 57,230 hectares (accounting for 52% of the annual crop area and 44% of the fruit tree area).

Statistics show that at least 36,086 hectares of summer-autumn rice have been affected, of which 15,803 hectares are deeply flooded; 20,283 hectares have been collapsed. Currently, 18,939 hectares have been forced to build, 10,689 hectares have been and are being drained. Estimated loss in output is over 99,097 tons (equivalent to 794.35 billion VND).

Regarding vegetables, colors, and flowers, about 12,251 hectares were affected, with estimated damage of about 811.1 billion VND. Of which, nearly 5,000 hectares of vegetables alone were damaged; loss in output was about 42,783 tons, equivalent to 380.3 billion VND.

Along with the two main crop groups of the 2024 Summer-Autumn crop, rice and vegetables, thousands of hectares of corn, annual flowers, ornamental plants and other crops (spices, medicinal plants, sweet potatoes, soybeans...) were also seriously damaged.

Despite proactive response plans to minimize damage caused by storms and floods, statistics up to September 30 show that the crop sector has suffered more than 1,800 billion VND in damage. Farmers in many localities are currently facing many difficulties.

Boosting production recovery

Faced with severe damage to the crop sector, Chairman of the People's Committee of Me Linh District Hoang Anh Tuan said that recently, the local government has directed the Economic Department and the Agricultural Service Center to focus on supporting people to restore production in vegetable-growing areas.

Local officials are instructing people on how to prepare the land for the new crop. They are focusing on instructing people on how to use short-term vegetable varieties for early harvest, ensuring supply to the Hanoi market.

According to Head of the Hanoi Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection Luu Thi Hang, the unit has advised the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue 6 documents directing the work of restoring crop production after storms and floods. Currently, localities are sticking together with farmers, actively overcoming the damage, and soon stabilizing production in vegetable areas.

For fruit trees, the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection recommends that people regularly check and drain water, avoid water stagnation in the garden and around the base of the tree, and remove the crust as the water recedes; take care of and prune damaged or broken branches, fertilize, regenerate roots, and cut down and replant fallen trees.

For areas of vegetables that have completely died and cannot recover, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection recommends that farmers focus on cleaning the fields and planting new crops. If they can continue to grow, spray foliar fertilizers, trace elements, etc. to help the plants recover quickly.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Dai said that, along with the proactive spirit of local authorities, farmers have also been very active in recovering from natural disasters. Up to now, in many vegetable-growing areas, crops are growing and developing well.

Along with focusing on overcoming the effects of floods caused by storm No. 3 and starting new crop production, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is also directing the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development to maintain connection activities, bringing agricultural products and food in general, including crop products, to Hanoi for consumption, in order to ensure supply for the people of the capital.