After reading the article "Drying rice on the road: more pitiful than blameworthy," I strongly disagree with its argument. As someone born into a farming family in the Mekong Delta, I deeply understand the value of each grain of rice. My parents toiled under the sun and guarded against rain to protect their harvest after three months of intense labor. However, understanding and sympathizing with farmers does not justify using emotion to excuse dangerous practices.

I believe drying rice on the road is completely wrong.

Those unfamiliar with driving on rice-covered roads may not grasp the inherent danger. Vehicle handlebars often sway, and wheels can easily slip, particularly for motorcycles. A sudden brake or momentary lapse in attention can lead to an accident. In fact, numerous incidents resulting in injuries and fatalities have occurred due to this practice.

Farmers truly face hardship, but no one has the right to exchange the safety of others for their own convenience.

Currently, during the scorching dry season, which coincides with the harvest, fields yield partially dried rice. Farmers with limited yard space typically dry small quantities, rolling it up in stages. While this process is demanding and labor-intensive, farmers must recognize that roads are designated for traffic flow, not for drying crops.

While hardship warrants empathy, incorrect actions must be addressed directly. If dangerous behaviors are continually excused by emotion, innocent road users will ultimately face the consequences.

Reader Anticolis Ho