Dong Thap farmers adjust practices to protect summer-autumn rice profits

Proactive changes to cut costs

Dong Thap's 2026 summer-autumn rice crop is entering its peak planting period amid a host of challenges. Prolonged heat and sharply higher input costs, which have driven production expenses up by as much as double, are placing heavy pressure on farmers right from the start of the season. Rather than waiting out the difficulties, many Dong Thap farmers have proactively changed their farming methods, cut costs, and strengthened cooperative ties to sustain production and protect profits.

According to the plan set by Dong Thap's agriculture sector, the province aims to plant more than 210,000 hectares of rice this summer-autumn season. As of now, over 72,000 hectares have been sown. While planting is on schedule, harsh weather conditions combined with soaring fertilizer and pesticide prices are making it harder for farmers to turn a profit.

In the rice fields of Ba Sao commune, Dong Thap province, farmers have moved away from small-scale, fragmented planting in favor of coordinated sowing, using the same certified seed varieties and following a shared cultivation process. This shift is seen as an important step toward reducing costs and controlling pests more effectively under adverse weather conditions.

Nguyen Van Hiep, who recently sowed 1.4 hectares of summer-autumn rice, said that under hot conditions, properly managing water levels in the fields is critical. Maintaining a stable water level helps limit alum (acid sulfate) contamination and protects the rice roots from the very start of the season, reducing treatment costs later on.

Le Van Phuoc, a nearby farmer cultivating three hectares, shared a similar view: "With costs rising so much, we have to plan carefully. We're cutting out unnecessary steps, checking the fields frequently, and only treating when it's truly needed - when pests or disease are seriously damaging the crop. We only spray for something like rice blast disease if the infection is severe; otherwise we try to save wherever we can. We're also conserving water through alternate wetting and drying irrigation."

Nguyen Quang Canh, who farms two hectares in My Quy commune, Dong Thap, said that from the very start of the season he thoroughly prepared the soil and worked fertilizer into the ground before sowing, while shifting toward organic fertilizers and pesticides and cutting back on chemical inputs.

"Right at the start of the season, I applied Dau Trau Bio-Canxi fertilizer from Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company to improve the soil and prevent alum toxicity, along with applying fertilizer in reasonable doses in later stages to support healthy plant growth. That has helped bring down fertilizer and pesticide costs. These changes may be small, but they're practical, they're helping farmers significantly cut input costs while improving their ability to cope with the harsh weather of the summer-autumn season," Canh said.

Stronger partnerships and new techniques to withstand weather pressures

One notable development this summer-autumn season is farmers' growing participation in production partnerships with businesses. These partnerships are seen as an important safety net, helping to reduce risks tied to pricing and output.

Nguyen Van Phu, head of Hamlet 4 in Ba Sao commune, Dong Thap province, said the hamlet has more than 1,400 hectares of rice production land. This season, local authorities have encouraged farmers to enter into partnerships with businesses covering roughly 1,000 hectares. Farmers participating in these partnerships receive support with input materials and are guaranteed stable outlets for their product, giving them greater confidence in production.

According to Phu, these partnerships also help farmers apply consistent techniques across their fields, improving rice quality and, in turn, raising the value of their product. Because businesses provide seed and materials and commit to purchasing the harvest, farmers save significantly on costs and see higher, more stable profits.

Still, some farmers remain cautious. Dao Tat Dat, of My Quy commune, said: "Partnerships are a good thing, it's great when we can sell at a higher price. But if the market shifts or the business runs into trouble, there's risk involved too. So farmers still need to plan carefully."

Despite these lingering concerns, the trend toward production partnerships is becoming increasingly clear, emerging as an important strategy to help farmers weather market fluctuations during the summer-autumn season.

According to the Dong Thap Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection, this summer-autumn season is expected to bring continued challenges, including prolonged heat, the risk of alum contamination, drought and salinity intrusion, water shortages, and an elevated risk of pest outbreaks.

Le Van Chan, deputy head of the Dong Thap Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection, advised farmers to strictly follow the recommended planting schedule and avoid sowing during peak heat periods, which can lower germination rates, since high temperatures can damage seeds and lead to uneven crop development.

He also emphasized the importance of maintaining clean fields, reinforcing field embankments, and proactively managing water sources to limit alum contamination. In areas at risk of alum, retaining fresh water and irrigating appropriately are essential to ensuring healthy rice growth.

Dong Thap's agriculture sector is encouraging farmers to more broadly adopt synchronized technical advances, such as reduced seeding density, balanced fertilizer application, and the use of high-quality rice varieties, to lower costs and improve production efficiency.