Rice farmers in Vietnam take advantage of the cool night to start planting their seeds
It was 3am when rice farmer Tran Thi Lan headed to the flooded fields on the outskirts of Vietnamese Hanoi to start planting, trying to finish before the sweltering heat of the day arrived.
Farming in the dark has become a lifesaver for countless farmers in northern and central Vietnam during sweltering summers, as countries in South and Southeast Asia battle record temperatures this year.
"It is very difficult to grow rice when the sun is strong," Lan, 47, told AFP.
"more productive"
As July begins, Lan embarks on nocturnal farming, as meteorologists predict a long stretch of heat, with daily temperatures exceeding 37°C.
"With not enough light, the planting may not be in a straight line, which makes it difficult to harvest. At night, we rely on lamps on our heads," the farmer said.
Like Lan, 62-year-old farmer Nguyen Hong Phuong will work from 4 pm to 9 pm, and then from 3 am to 9 am.
Rice cultivation in Vietnam. nhac nguyen/afp or licensors
"With the extremely high temperatures, working during the day is very unpleasant and tiring, although of course I can see more clearly," Fong said.
"Working at night is more productive and less distracting," he added.
Day or night, farmers like Lan and Fong can earn up to $40 a day, which is a lot in a country where workers in rural areas usually earn about $250 a month.
Source: websites