Early Rice Seedling Raising Nearly 80% Complete, Centralized Seedling Raising Steadily Expanding

        Since late February, the South China and Jiangnan regions of China have successively entered the early rice seedling raising and transplanting period from south to north. According to the agricultural situation monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture, the intended planting area of early rice this year is expected to be over 87 million mu, an increase of over 300,000 mu compared with the previous year. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a monitoring and analysis of early rice production. Overall, although the early rice sowing period was somewhat delayed due to the continuous rainy weather in early and mid-March, all localities seized the favorable opportunity of recent temperature recovery and sufficient water sources to soak seeds in time, sow on clear days, and accelerate the progress of seedling raising and transplanting. The overall situation of early rice production is relatively good.

First, the seedling raising progress is generally normal. Since March 20, temperatures have risen rapidly in all localities, with alternating sunny and rainy days and suitable light, accelerating the progress of early rice sowing and seedling raising. As of March 30, the national early rice seedling raising area (converted to field area) reached 68.24 million mu, completing 78.4%, 2.3 percentage points slower than the same period last year. Among them, early rice seedling raising in South China is basically complete, with 27.1% already transplanted; Jiangxi has completed over 80% and Hunan over 70%, and the two provinces are expected to complete early rice sowing by early April; Anhui has completed over 30%, and the sowing area is expected to exceed 90% before April 2, 2-3 days earlier than last year; Zhejiang has completed over 20% and Hubei over 10%.

Second, the area of centralized seedling raising has expanded. All localities gave full play to the demonstration and driving role of high-yield grain creation and green yield-increasing model research, further increased efforts, strengthened measures, and vigorously promoted centralized early rice seedling raising. The national centralized early rice seedling raising area this year is expected to be over 26 million mu, an expansion of over 4 million mu compared with last year. Among them, Hunan Province added a new budget of 15 million yuan to support centralized seedling raising, a year-on-year increase of 43%. The centralized early rice seedling raising area reached over 11 million mu, an increase of 1 million mu over last year, accounting for about 50% of the province's early rice area. Jiangxi's centralized seedling raising area reached 7 million mu, an increase of 1.5 million mu. Guangdong and Hubei's centralized seedling raising areas reached 4.5 million mu and 3 million mu respectively, both increasing by 500,000 mu over the previous year.

Third, seedling growth is generally good. All localities reported that since early rice sowing, although there has been relatively more rain, the weather has alternated between sunny and rainy, temperatures have steadily recovered, and there has been no obvious low temperature, which is favorable for early rice seedling raising. There has been no seed rot or seedling rot, and seedling growth is good. Jiangxi reported that seedlings are currently generally at the 1-leaf-1-heart to 2-leaf-1-heart stage, and seedling quality is generally high, making it a normal to favorable year. Most early rice in Hunan is at the 1-leaf-1-heart stage, and earlier-sown seedlings have reached the 2-leaf-1-heart stage, with good seedling quality. Guangxi seedlings average 3 leaves, with the northern part at 1-leaf-1-heart and the southern part at 3-4 leaves, with growth comparable to the same period last year.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, from April 2 to 6, there will be heavy rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Parts of northern Hunan, northern Jiangxi, central-eastern and southern Hubei, and southern Anhui will experience heavy to torrential rain, with localized severe torrential rain, which is unfavorable for early rice seedling raising and transplanting. In response, our company will base itself on disaster resistance to secure a bumper harvest, strengthen guidance and services, implement key measures, and make every effort to promote the stable development of early rice production. First, firmly implement the early rice area. Strengthen policy publicity and information guidance, fully mobilize farmers' enthusiasm for grain production, seize the gaps between rainfall, sow in time, and transplant at the appropriate time to ensure that the intended early rice planting area is truly implemented in the fields. Second, firmly implement technical guidance services. Extensively mobilize experts and technical personnel to go deep into the production frontline to carry out technical services, vigorously promote centralized seedling raising, guide farmers in seedling field management, regulate temperature with water, and strive to cultivate strong seedlings; vigorously develop mechanical transplanting, guide farmers to reduce the area of direct-seeded early rice, and improve transplanting quality. Third, firmly implementdisease and pest prevention and control. In response to the situation of more rainy and cloudy weather with insufficient light in some areas and high field humidity, which is conducive to the occurrence of seedling damping-off and other diseases, strengthen disease and pest monitoring and early warning, implement prevention and control measures as early as possible, vigorously carry out specialized unified prevention and control, and reduce disease and pest damage. Fourth, firmly implement disaster prevention and mitigation. Cold air is frequently active in spring. Closely monitor weather changes, strengthen monitoring and early warning of severe weather, focus on preventing early rice seedling rot and direct-seeded rice seed rot possibly caused by the “late spring cold” in April, do a good job in preventing rainstorms, floods and other disasters, implement various disaster prevention and mitigation measures as early as possible, and make every effort to secure a bumper early rice harvest.