Ready for a new crop season

At this time, localities across Dong Nai province are harvesting their summer–autumn rice and corn crops. In many areas, the summer–autumn harvest is nearly complete, and preparations are underway for the new crop season.

Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment (second from right), visits a vegetable farming model in Dak Lua commune. Photo: Binh Nguyen

With nearly 165,000 hectares, Dong Nai province has one of the largest annual crop cultivation areas. Among the province’s major crops are rice fields covering nearly 59,000 hectares; corn over 38,000 hectares; and vegetables, more than 20,500 hectares, respectively.

Summer-Autumn crop: low prices, low profits for farmers

The summer–autumn crop usually accounts for the largest rice-growing area of the year. In 2025, the province planted nearly 18,000 hectares of rice during this season, with an estimated output of more than 109,400 tons, reaching 95,9% of 2024’s figure. While rice yields have been maintained, prices this year are lower than in previous years, affecting farmers’ profits.

In the 2025 summer–autumn season, aside from 150 hectares of rice and corn cultivated by its members, the Xuan Tien Agricultural Service - Trade Cooperative (Xuan Phu commune, Dong Nai province) also partnered with farmers in other localities to cultivate about 500 hectares of rice.

According to Tran Quang, Director of the Xuan Tien Agricultural Service - Trade Cooperative, the Cooperative has focused on harvesting its summer–autumn rice and corn crops. Productivity and quality are good. However, only the specialty ST25 rice variety has maintained strong selling prices, while many other rice varieties – especially ordinary ones – have seen sharp declines. Specifically, ordinary rice is currently sold in the field at 4,000–4,500 VND/kg, about 2,000 VND/kg lower than the same period last year. At this price, rice farmers are earning almost no profit. Corn kernels, sold for over 7,000 VND/kg at the same time last year, but under 6,000 VND/kg at present, also significantly affect farmers’ profits.

Dong Tay Cooperative (Xuan Dong commune), which specializes in growing whole corn plants for animal feed processing and export, has also faced challenges since early 2025. Export orders have declined, and transport costs have risen, so the co-op’s purchase price for whole corn plants has dropped compared to previous years. However, this model still brings better profits than growing corn for grain.

Bui Trung Vinh Phuoc, Director of Dong Tay Cooperative, shared that in the 2025 summer–autumn season, the Cooperative’s corn-growing area decreased compared to 2024, down to nearly 200 hectares. It is now rushing to finish harvesting the remaining corn fields while also preparing the soil for the new cropping season. Weather conditions and irrigation water are favorable for farmers to begin sowing the next crop.

Hopes for the new crop season

For the 2025 main rice crop, the cultivation area is expected to decrease slightly compared to last year, with about 16,000 hectares, down by roughly 8,000 hectares from 2024. According to rice and corn farmers in the province, this year’s abundant irrigation water and more favorable weather will make planting the new season’s rice crop smoother.

Communal officials in Hung Phuoc visit local farmers’ rice fields. Photo: Vu Thuyen

Tran Quang, Director of the Xuan Tien Agricultural Service - Trade Cooperative, remarked that corn kernel prices have fallen due to weak competitiveness against cheaper imported corn. Accordingly, for the 2025 main rice crop, the cooperative will increase the planting area of specialty rice varieties to ensure better profits for its members. This year, the rainy season has arrived early, with no drought conditions as in previous years, so farmers are expected to sow the main rice crop about half a month earlier than usual.

Compared to other crops, wet rice is considered the staple crop in ethnic minority areas, especially in the former border districts of Bu Dop and Loc Ninh. Notably, thanks to national target programs, most localities have been funded to invest in building irrigation canals and well-developed in-field roads. This not only facilitates smooth transportation but also ensures abundant irrigation water for 3 rice crops per year.

Lam On, a resident of Soc Lon hamlet, Loc Hung commune, shared that the hamlet has 98 hectares of rice land planted with various varieties such as Dai Thom 8, OM4900, OM5451, ST24, and ST25. His family has just sown 1 hectare of OM5451 for the 2025 main rice crop. With a convenient irrigation canal system ensuring water for 3 crops per year, rice yields and quality have improved compared to previous years.

According to local vegetable farmers, leafy greens and fruit vegetables are produced continuously year-round to meet market demand, rather than on a seasonal basis. However, in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, farmers usually increase planting to ensure sufficient supply. Therefore, after the rainy season, farmers make thorough preparations to be ready for the Tet vegetable crop.

With many years of experience in wet rice cultivation, Thi Loc, Director of the Loc Khanh Quality Rice Cooperative (Loc Hung commune), shared that the winter–spring crop is considered the “golden season,” with warm sunshine, little rain, and fewer pests, making it suitable for planting fragrant, high-quality rice varieties such as Dai Thom 8, ST24, and ST25. For the remaining crops, due to the impacts of “erratic sunshine and rainfall” and higher pest incidence, farmers are advised to grow common varieties like OM5451 to safeguard their investment.

According to Loc, thanks to cultivating high-quality, safe rice, the cooperative’s clean rice products enjoy stable markets and good prices. For the new production season, with abundant water resources and careful preparations, the cooperative’s members have already completed sowing for the main rice crop, with expectations of yet another bumper harvest.

By: Binh Nguyen - Vu Thuyen
Translated by: Quynh Giao - Thu Ha