Luocheng's early rice enters maturation season

A farmer drives a harvester to harvest early rice in Luocheng Mulam autonomous county. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The 120,600 mu (8,040 hectares) of early rice in Luocheng Mulam autonomous county has recently entered maturation and harvest season. Farmers are busy with mechanical harvesting operations to prepare for the planting of late rice.

In recent years, Luocheng has implemented special funds to encourage food planting. The county has dispatched agricultural technicians to provide guidance to farmers in various aspects, such as early rice soaking and germination, cultivating seedlings, formula fertilization, as well as prevention and control of pests and diseases.

The county actively promotes agricultural mechanized field operations. Since the beginning of this year, the county has used 3.6 million yuan ($532,179) in subsidies for the purchase of agricultural machinery, and the comprehensive mechanization level of crop cultivation and harvesting in the county has reached 46.56 percent.

According to an official of the agriculture and rural affairs bureau of Luocheng Mulam autonomous county, it is expected that the total area of grain harvested in the county this year will reach 195,000 mu, while the output will reach 59,000 metric tons. Among them, the harvested area of early rice is expected to reach 120,600 mu, while the output will reach 41,300 tons.