I. Agricultural economy boosted by irrigation

More verdant paddies as a result of irrigation

Being embraced by the Be and Dong Nai Rivers and contributing to the irrigation construction system, the pumping station is one of the strengths of Bac Tan Uyen district (Binh Duong) to develop agriculture according to the specialized cultivation area, gradually adopting high technology into production, and generating a substantial income for the locals.

Arriving at Bac Tan Uyen today, we can see the horizontally arranged pomelo garden, orange garden, and mandarin garden that are irrigated by an irrigation structure. The Head of the Station led us to the Da Ban – Suoi Dau irrigation reservoir, one of the local landmarks. These days, when we visit the Bac Tan Uyen district, we see infinite grapefruit, orange, and tangerine plantations that are irrigated by irrigation projects. Mr. Dang Van Luong, Head of Bac Tan Uyen district irrigation station, stated that with nearly 2,000 hectares of citrus growing area (180 hectares with VietGAP certification), Bac Tan Uyen is one of the leading localities in the province in terms of citrus fruit productivity and quality.

In addition to agricultural extension work and the application of science and technology to production, Mr. Dang Van Luong emphasized the importance of investing in infrastructure to support agricultural development in order to achieve the goals above.

Since 2014, the district of Bac Tan Uyen has implemented five electricity projects, over ten irrigation projects, and dozens of transportation projects with substantial capital expenditures to support agricultural development in general and the economic development of specialized fruit-growing regions in particular.

Currently, there are eight irrigation works in the district, including two reservoirs (Da Ban - Suoi Sau, Doc Nhan) and six pumping stations, as well as an irrigation canal system with a length of nearly 71 kilometers and the capacity to irrigate 789 hectares.

"In recent years, the District People's Committee has invested in, repaired, and upgraded the district's irrigation infrastructure. Mr. Dang Van Luong shared that the synchronization of the irrigation system, from key works to ditch systems, economical watering systems, and effective administration and exploitation, has met the production and daily life requirements of rural residents.

Continue investing in modernizing irrigation systems

According to the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Tan Uyen District Nguyen Van Thuan, Bac Tan Uyen district has recently promoted the development of high-tech agriculture and specialized citrus farming areas as a locale with many potentials and advantages for agricultural development. To date, the local paradigm of high-tech agriculture has resulted in significant economic efficacy.

To direct sustainable agricultural development, the District People's Committee has directed functional branches to develop and ratify the detailed planning of the district's agricultural sector with a vision to 2025 and has also informed departments and branches of this directive. Concerned, the People's Committees of communes, municipalities, and all district residents will organize and oversee the planning's implementation.

To effectively serve the above orientation, the district continues to upgrade and perfect the rural and intra-field traffic networks to serve the transportation and supply of agricultural materials and agricultural products; solidify canals, reservoirs, pumping stations, and other irrigation works, ensuring an adequate supply of irrigation water to meet production needs; and construct synchronous environmental treatment systems in farms and agricultural production facilities.

The Suoi Sau branch has typically been dredged, completed, and placed into use just after the Da Ban - Suoi Sau self-flowing canal and the Tan Loi stream project. Investing in the dredging of canals has helped to ensure water flow and provide agriculture with irrigation water.

Mr. Dang Quyet Thang, Vice Chairman of the Lac An Commune People's Committee, stated, "During the drought season, there is insufficient water in the self-flowing lake to meet uniform irrigation demands. The process of dredging enables local producers to be proactive about irrigation. Irrigate plants at the appropriate time. In addition, farmers benefit from crop structure conversion, the application of science and technology to increase production efficiency, increase income, and enhance their livelihoods."

Nguyen Van Thuan, vice chairman of the Bac Tan Uyen District People's Committee, added that invested and enhanced irrigation projects have contributed to the district's agriculture's accelerated growth in recent years. To effectively exploit and operate the irrigation system to serve production, the agricultural sector of the district continues to maintain, repair, and upgrade existing works to ensure irrigation and drainage requirements for one hundred percent of the agricultural production area are met within the irrigation area of the irrigation system invested by the district; popularize and replicate the application of water-saving techniques, particularly in areas with limited water resources.