Protect key crops against extreme weather

Erratic weather, rising pest and disease risks

In the closing days of August, as extensive crop acreage across Dak Lak enters periods decisive to final yield and quality, the risk of harmful organisms emerging and spreading is trending upward.

Recently, Mr. Luong Anh Tuan, Director of the Central Region Center for Crop Production and Plant Protection (under the Department of Plant Production and Protection), alongside a working delegation, conducted field inspections of crop production and pest situations across the province.

Working with local specialized agencies, the delegation noted positive signals across Dak Lak's crop production. However, many key crops have entered critical growth stages, requiring farmers to intensify caretaking and garden/field surveillance.

By the end of August 2026, the province recorded over 94,900 hectares of summer-autumn rice in booting to milky-ripe stages; 217,654 hectares of coffee entering fruit development; and 44,890 hectares of durian developing fruit and undergoing harvest. Meanwhile, over 28,800 hectares of black pepper began flower bud differentiation and flowering. Alongside plant growth, multiple harmful pests and diseases have begun to emerge, with an upward trend.

On rice crops, rats, stem borers, and dirty panicle disease warrant attention. In durian orchards, mealybugs, fruit borers, and Phytophthora disease pose notable risks. Coffee trees are prone to mealybugs, beetles, and pink disease (Corticium salmonicolor) in humid conditions with dense canopies. Black pepper also faces risks of quick wilt (Phytophthora) and slow wilt (Fusarium).

Forecasts project that the El Niño phenomenon in the coming period could remain strong, continuing to affect weather across the South Central Coast and Central Highlands.

Currently, weather patterns show alternating severe heatwaves and localized late-afternoon thunderstorms. Large diurnal temperature variations and heightened air humidity following rainfall create favorable environments for fungal pathogens and insect pests to proliferate and spread.

Mr. Luong Anh Tuan stated that during seasonal transition conditions, fungal spores, especially strains belonging to Phytophthora and Fusarium genera - can disperse rapidly via water runoff or rain splashes onto tree trunks and branches.

Low-lying areas and orchards with poor drainage systems are even more prone to disease emergence and spread. Therefore, proactive field and orchard inspections to detect abnormal symptoms early play a vital role in curbing losses.

Timely crop care, protecting yields

For summer-autumn rice in booting to milky-ripe stages, specialized agencies recommend farmers maintain a moderate water level in paddy fields, not exceeding 5 cm. This measure helps regulate temperature and mitigate thermal shock during scorching days.

Rats are a major pest; therefore, organize synchronized rat extermination, prioritizing mechanical and biological traps. Farmers should also inspect rice bases regularly to monitor brown planthopper and white-backed planthopper densities, while cleaning bunds and clearing weeds to limit shelter for planthoppers, leaf folders, stem borers, and pathogen sources.

In durian orchards developing fruit and preparing for harvest, mealybugs, cotton aphids, and particularly Phytophthora causing stem canker, gummosis, and fruit rot require strict control.

Growers are advised to whitewash tree trunks from 0.5 to 1.2 meters to form a protective layer, preventing soil-borne fungal pathogens from invading. Root zones should receive decomposed organic fertilizer combined with antagonistic fungi such as Trichoderma and Streptomyces to maintain vigorous root systems.

Additionally, balanced nutritional supplements, including foliar fertilizers rich in calcium and boron, help increase pedicel toughness and reduce adverse fruit physiological disorders. Concurrently, high phosphorus and potassium formulations can be applied to suppress unwanted young flushes.

Crucially, to prevent fungal pathogen entry and avoid compromising fruit quality, growers should avoid harvesting durians during prolonged rains or heavy fog.

For coffee in fruit development, dense canopies coupled with late-afternoon thunderstorms can generate favorable environments for mealybugs, beetles, pink disease, and branch dieback. Consequently, clearing drainage furrows and regularly pruning suckers, dry branches, and unproductive shaded inner shoots should be performed to increase ventilation and improve sunlight penetration. Farmers must also thoroughly examine fruit clusters in dense spots to detect and treat mealybugs early.

For black pepper undergoing flower bud differentiation and scattered blooming, risks of quick and slow wilt demand elevated caution during waterlogged conditions. Clearing drainage ditches and preventing standing water are paramount requirements.

Growers can apply lime to treat infected root zones while restricting inorganic nitrogen fertilizers when soil is waterlogged, as this can damage delicate young roots. Instead, priority should go to organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, and suitable microbial inoculants such as Trichoderma and Bacillus to support root systems.

If lace bugs (Elasmognathus) are detected damaging tender flower spikes, growers should isolate affected zones for monitoring and apply suitable management measures, prioritizing eco-friendly solutions to minimize impacts on orchard ecosystems.

According to Mr. Luong Anh Tuan, amid increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, safe and sustainable production must go hand in hand with integrated plant health management (IPHM). Pesticide application must strictly adhere to the "4 Rights" principle, combined with cultivation, biological, and caretaking practices tailored to each crop species.

With large production scales and high-value agricultural commodities, crop protection not only minimizes immediate economic losses for farmers but also maintains the quality and reputation of Dak Lak's agricultural brand.

Farmers' proactive mindset, coupled with timely forecasting, technical guidance, and institutional support from local agricultural authorities, will be key factors enabling Dak Lak to adapt to extreme weather, safeguard crop seasons, and develop safe, sustainable agriculture.