Developing a reservoir with multiple values

As soon as correspondents from Vietnam Agriculture News arrived at Song May lake (Trang Bom district), the Song May Seafood Aquaculture Team rushed to draw nets and select harvestable fishes. This quantity of seafood is served as part of the economic development mission of military units.

Lieutenant Le Minh Tan, Captain of the Aquaculture Team, said that the unit is presently renting Song May Lake surface from Dong Nai Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited with an area of 196 hectares. With a large lake area, fish aquaculture is quite convenient, so units stationed in the province of Dong Nai have a daily source of fresh fish food, thereby enhancing their diets.

"Each year, the crew collects approximately 260 tons of fish, of which 60% is used as culinary supplies. The remainder is sold to merchants at the Binh Dien market, thereby increasing the income of the unit, as stated by Lieutenant Le Minh Tan.

In addition, the team participates in the renovation and regulation of certain fishing service areas in the irrigation reservoir, which attracts visitors from other locations.

At Da Ton Irrigation Lake (Thanh Son commune, Tan Phu district), the Da Ton Aquaculture Business Services Cooperative is also preparing to harvest its fish school. This cooperative provides over 200 tons of carp, bighead carp, mud carp, and black carp to the market each year.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hoai, Director of the Cooperative, stated, "At this time, the cooperative's fish aquaculture at Da Ton Lake has obtained VietGAP certification. We intend to extend tourism and dining services at Da Ton Lake to attract visitors."

Not only does Da Ton have a large lake surface area, but it also has a prime location and picturesque surroundings. In recent years, the Tan Phu District People's Committee has fostered the development of local tourism by constructing roads connecting Da Ton Lake to other attractions, such as Cat Tien National Park and Highway 20... Moreover, Da Ton Lake is located close to the "drop point" of the Dau Giay - Lien Khuong highway.

"We have invited investors to exploit and cultivate tourism at Da Ton Lake jointly. In addition to servicing aquaculture, the lakeside tourism area also focuses on pleasures, sightseeing, cuisine, and relaxation. Mr. Bui Truong Son, chairman of Thanh Son Commune's People's Committee, stated that this helps the area attract a large number of travelers in the future, contributing to the growth of other economic sectors.

In Cam My district, the district People's Committee issued a document proposing to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee the policy of creating zoning plans to invite investment in developing eco-tourism and rehabilitation tourism at two lakes, Cau Moi and Song Ray, as part of land use planning until 2030. These are two enormous water-regulating lakes with favorable landscapes and climates that have not yet been exploited by the tourism industry. If approved and implemented, the future Cam My district will have two combined ecotourism lakes near the Long Thanh airport's entrance.

Director of the Dong Nai Department of Crop Production - Plant Protection and Irrigation, Mr. Vu Quoc Viet, told us that the province's policy is to maximize the value of irrigation lakes. In addition to their primary function of providing water for irrigation and daily life, water reservoirs offer additional advantages. The Branch also advised the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit, for approval by the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, policies designed to attract investment in water reservoirs within the investment and tourism development segment.

"Irrigation waters must be secure and pristine ecological spaces, complete with trees and buffer zones. In addition to supplying water for daily life and industry, the irrigation lake is also a destination for ecotourism,” according to Mr. Linh.

Dong Nai has 18 irrigation reservoirs with a combined capacity of over 107,2 million cubic meters. Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee Vo Van Phi stated, "The Provincial People's Committee is constructing a water resource development strategy to meet future development requirements. Consequently, irrigation lakes serve not only as a source of water for agriculture and daily life, but also as a tourist destination and ecological space. If water reservoirs are effectively exploited, they will aid in the development of innovative tourism, which will stimulate economic growth.