Warning of increased pest and disease damage to early summer-autumn rice crop
In Vinh Long, hot and dry weather conditions are creating favorable conditions for the proliferation of golden apple snails, brown planthoppers, and thrips in summer-autumn rice crops. Farmers need to closely monitor their fields to take timely action.
Given the prolonged hot and dry weather, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province warns that many pests and diseases are at risk of increasing in area and causing damage to early summer-autumn rice crops in 2026.
According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Vinh Long province, by the end of last week, the entire province recorded 3,762 hectares of summer-autumn rice infected with pests and diseases out of a total of nearly 10,000 hectares that had been planted, an increase of 2,114 hectares compared to the previous week.
Of these, golden apple snails caused the most damage, affecting 2,271 hectares (an increase of 2,114 hectares compared to the previous week), with a common density of 1-3 snails/m2, mainly damaging rice seedlings. Next was brown planthopper, affecting 1,241 hectares (an increase of 1,213 hectares), mainly adult planthoppers, with a common density of 500-1,000 planthoppers/m2; in severely infested areas, the density reached 2,000-3,000 planthoppers/m2 in Cai Ngang, Tra On, and Song Phu communes.
Currently, the summer-autumn rice crop is just beginning its season, with most of it in the seedling stage. Combined with hot, dry conditions, this creates a favorable environment for pests such as golden apple snails, brown planthoppers, and thrips to develop and cause damage.
Smart insect forecasting station in Tam Ngai commune, Vinh Long province. Photo: Minh Dam.
Forecasts for this week indicate that golden apple snails will continue to damage newly planted rice fields, especially in low-lying, waterlogged areas where control measures have not been proactively implemented. Thrips are also expected to increase their infestation, particularly in water-scarce fields.
Notably, long-winged adult brown planthoppers, capable of rapid movement and dispersal, have appeared in the fields. Simultaneously, nymphs (ages 1-2) are also emerging in early summer-autumn rice crops.
The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Vinh Long province advises farmers to regularly inspect their fields and closely monitor the development of pests and diseases to handle them promptly and effectively. For brown planthoppers, only spray specific insecticides when the planthoppers are in their 2nd-3rd instar; prioritize the use of molting inhibitors and systemic insecticides; do not mix with broad-spectrum insecticides to avoid the risk of planthopper outbreaks in later stages.
In the coming period, farmers need to closely monitor brown planthopper forecasts from specialized agencies to proactively manage the situation effectively. At the same time, they should pay attention to other pests such as rats during the rice sowing stage, weeds, and rice stem borers during the tillering stage.
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