Northern farmers are expected to harvest a bumper crop from June to September, reports the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Statistics show that farm land currently covers 1.17 million hectares in the north, a 36,500 ha decrease compared to last year. Despite this, the total output is forecast to reach 5.8-5.9 million tonnes, or 80,000 tonnes more than 2008. On average, yields range from 0.49 to 0.5 tonne/ha .

Phan Huy Thong, deputy director of MARD’s Cultivation Department, said an irrigation shortage led to the decreased of farming area. Farmers have switched to growing dry trees, which yield higher economic gains, overcoming the irrigation issues.

In addition, some former cultivation areas were taken over for other purposes.

Thong said the unusual weather conditions that occurred at the beginning of the growing period, including torrential rains in July, had a huge effect on the cultivation progress. However, due to the active and timely repair of the damages, rice had good growth.

If the crop is harvested as expected, the total annual output will be about 13.4-13.5 million tonnes. According to Thong, the cultivation area for the winter crop will cover 550-570ha and the expected value is about 10,000 billion VND (559 million USD).

To achieve this target, MARD has set aside good seeds to stay on the timeline, the most important factor in securing a bumper crop./.