Ca Mau faces urgent brown planthopper outbreak in rice crops

In Ca Mau province, a significant outbreak of brown planthoppers is threatening the summer-autumn rice crop. Since early August, high densities of the pests have been reported in areas such as Vinh Loi, Chau Thoi, Hoa Binh, and Vinh My, particularly during the heading and ripening stages.

In Vinh Loi commune, some areas have recorded densities between 5,000 and 7,000 planthoppers per square meter, creating a high risk of crop failure. Farmers report that the infestation causes rice grains to become empty, stems to soften, and plants to collapse, making harvesting difficult. The outbreak has also increased production costs by approximately 3.5 to 3.7 million VND per công due to the frequent need for specialized pesticides.

Agricultural experts advise farmers to monitor fields regularly and apply specialized treatments immediately if densities reach three planthoppers per rice tiller to prevent further damage and potential losses.