Overcome technical barriers, opening the market for winter crops

On September 8 in Bac Giang, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference to review the winter crop production in 2022 and implement the plan for the winter crop in 2023 in the northern provinces.

According to the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the winter crop area in 2022 reached 373,000 hectares (an increase of about 9,000 hectares compared to the winter crop in 2021); total output reached more than 4.7 million tons (an increase of more than 2,000 tons); Production value reached VND 99 million/ha (an increase of VND 3.4 million/ha); Total production value reached more than VND 36,000 billion.

One of the main reasons why the value of the 2022 winter crop is higher than the 2021 winter crop is due to the shift in crop structure under seasonal pressure and low economic value, such as soybeans and sweet potatoes. Crops with higher economic value and less seasonal pressure include ornamental flowers, root vegetables, fruit vegetables, high-quality vegetables, food for fresh eating, and biomass corn for livestock feed...

Also, according to the Department of Crop Production, based on the results of the winter crop 2022. In the winter crop 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to stabilize the winter crop area of about 380,000 hectares, with an output of about 5 million tons. In particular, focuses on developing some crops with high economic value, linking production in chains, having product consumption contracts, and ensuring output for farmers. Total production value strives to reach over VND 40,000 billion. The average production value reaches about VND 110 million/ha.

Regarding the variety structure, warm-loving plants (corn, sweet potatoes, soybeans, peanuts, warm-loving vegetables) account for about 50% of the total area. The group of cold-loving plants (potatoes, cold-loving legumes) accounts for about 50% of the area.

Regarding the season, for warm-loving plants, the planting season needs to end before October 10. The group of cold-loving plants is planted after October 15, with potato plants focused on growing from October 25 to November 15. At the same time, planting crops are spread out for the vegetable group to ensure supply, limiting surpluses, low prices, or shortages of vegetables that push prices up.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung emphasized that the winter crop in the Northern provinces is currently the main production season. With this orientation, relevant units under the Ministry and localities need to continue to guide farmers to organize the production of the 2023 winter crop more systematically and effectively.

Specifically, localities refer to the list of 18 types of winter crops developed by the Department of Crop Production and the seasonal framework to develop production plans suitable to their local characteristics.

In addition, the 2023 winter crop is also forecast to have difficulties due to unusual changes in climate and markets... Therefore, to ensure successful 2023 winter crop production, the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of the provinces The North based on common policies based on actual conditions to proactively propose and advise the People's Committees and People's Councils of the areas to have policy mechanisms to support cooperatives, production households, and enterprises for investment cooperation and production cooperation and consumption of products; Focus on directing production towards ensuring quality, food safety, and hygiene, stimulating consumer demand, and finding and expanding consumption markets for winter vegetables.

According to the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the winter crop area in 2022 reached 373,000 hectares (an increase of about 9,000 hectares compared to the winter crop in 2021); total output reached more than 4.7 million tons (an increase of more than 2,000 tons); Production value reached VND 99 million/ha (an increase of VND 3.4 million/ha); Total production value reached more than VND 36,000 billion.

Products with higher selling prices than the winter 2021 crop are corn seeds, biomass corn, and especially peanuts (with a sudden increase). The vegetable group increased slightly and maintained high selling prices from the beginning to the end of the season. From there, it contributes to increasing income and economic efficiency per planted area unit.

With warm-loving plants, choosing a suitable seed structure and planting as early as possible is necessary. For the group of cold-loving plants, it is required to arrange appropriate planting seasons to maximize the exploitation of land conditions and labor to limit harvesting a large number of products at one time, causing surplus falling prices, avoid affecting the water extraction plan for the winter-spring crop of 2023 - 2024.

At the same time, closely follow the seasonal framework and weather developments to adjust the crop variety structure appropriately. Building, disseminating, and replicating new technical advances, economic farming models, reducing input materials such as new varieties; minimum tillage; making gourd corn; Harvest rice and plant pots to plant pumpkins and melons; Using plastic mulch in growing pumpkins, melons, peanuts... to take advantage of time, reduce labor and increase economic efficiency. Proactively direct management and prevention of pests and diseases, especially fall armyworms on corn.

In addition, strengthen inspection and examination of units producing and trading plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides to prevent and handle counterfeit business activities promptly poor quality products, ensuring the best implementation of the 2023 winter crop production plan.