Water conservation for the dry season

Water conservation for the dry season in 2024

In anticipation of the 2023-2024 winter-spring rice crop, the agricultural sector of Vinh Long province has outlined a plan to sow seeds on 40,000 hectares across three phases. The majority of farmers in the province have begun sowing seeds for the main rice crop. To date, farmers in Vinh Long province has sowed on 8,300 hectares, with a focus on the germination to tillering stage.

Mr. Nguyen Vinh Phuc, Director of the Vinh Long province's Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, shared insights into the 2023-2024 winter-spring vegetables crop. Accordingly, local farmers have successfully sown nearly 3,200 hectares out of the planned 23,800 hectares by mid-November 2023. Additionally, the province's fruit farms have covered an area of over 70,000 hectares. These farms have exhibited excellent growth and are entering the fruiting stage in preparation for the 2024 Tet holiday.

Vinh Long province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Directive No. 10 in early June 2023, with regards to the urgent measures to address the impacts of heatwaves, saltwater intrusion, drought, and water shortages caused by the El Niño. As of September 27, the Department has proposed the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan for combating saltwater intrusion from 2023 to 2025.

Regarding the active management of water resources and prevention of saltwater intrusion, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed three potential scenarios to the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee in the upcoming dry season. Namely, the local Sub-Department of Irrigation recommended the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish solutions for the operation of irrigation infrastructure and provide recommendations to address the most challenging Scenario 3 of: 'Severe saltwater intrusion and salt concentration levels equivalent to the 2019-2020 dry season.'

However, Mr. Tran Nguyen Anh Tu, Deputy Director of the Vinh Long province's Sub-Department of Irrigation, added: "The saltwater intrusion is expected to be more severe compared to that in 2025-2016, comparable to 2022 but not as severe as 2019-2020. Additionally, the intrusion levels may rise to match the severity of that in 2020, with low likelihood. However, if this scenario occurs, the duration of saltwater intrusion will not be prolonged."

Additionally, the province is has prepared annual measures, with a focus on dredging canals and ditches and operating sluices and dams for freshwater storage. Additionally, the province is continuously implementing the task of repairing and reinforcing local sluices, culverts, and weakened irrigation structures.

Community assurance in agricultural production

Tam Binh district featres two main rivers, the Mang Thit River and the Hau River, with a total length of 11.5 kilometers passing through the areas of Hoa Thanh, Hoa Hiep, Tuong Loc, Loan My, Binh Ninh, Ngai Tu, and the town of Tam Bình. Additionally, there are 1,118 canal routes with a total length of over 1,150 kilometers. Furthermore, there are 36 culverts and 77 solid dams ensuring internal water regulation to serve both production and daily life.

Tam Binh district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that the District People's Committee and relevant agencies have established annual plans for dredging, clearing debris, and maintaining water flow to ensure the operation of rivers, canals, and ditches. The district has invested in 182 irrigation projects from various funding sources since 2011.

The current irrigation infrastructure in the district has been evaluated to be adequate and well-integrated with the goal of agricultural restructuring. Irrigation projects have assisted in providing water for active irrigation across nearly 24,590 hectares of agricultural land, boasting a 100% success rate. So far, all 16 communes in the district have met the requirements regarding irrigation and disaster prevention infrastructure as stipulated by the National Criteria for Commune-level New Rural Areas from 2021 to 2025.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuoc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tan Tien Cooperative in My Loc commune, Tam Binh district, Vinh Long province, reported that the local irrigation infrastructure has received attention from the government, thereby allowing farmers to produce three rice crops per year and effectively manage water drainage during the rainy season. "Within the last two days, farmers in the commune have started sowing seeds in preparation for the next crop. Notably, members of the cooperative have planted on nearly 13 hectares of land. The weather is favorable, with no extreme heat waves or heavy rain which can damage the seeds," Mr. Phuoc commented on local farmers' preparation activities for the winter-spring rice crop.

On the other hand, Binh Tan district aimed to implement 17 mechanized projects in 2023, with a total length of nearly 26,400 meters, and a volume of excavated soil exceeding 104,000 cubic meters. The total budget for the projects reached nearly 3.75 billion Vietnamese dong. By the beginning of the flood season, 11 of these projects have been completed and put into operation, demonstrating their effectiveness.

In addition, with a budget of 180 million Vietnamese dong from the irrigation sector, the district has completed five projects with a total length of approximately 3,200 meters and an excavated soil volume of nearly 9,800 cubic meters. Furthermore, Binh Tan district has completed nine internal drainage projects with a total length of nearly 4,400 meters and an excavated soil volume of over 6,600 cubic meters, and a total budget of 137 million Vietnamese dong.

Due to the accelerated progress of irrigation projects, local residents have been able to proactively store water for irrigation during the dry season and protect their crops during the flood season. Subsequently, the projects have enabled local farmers to plan the production of suitable vegetables to enhance household income.

There are 789 hectares of intercropped rice and sweet potatoes in Tan Thanh commune, Binh Tan district, along with 326 hectares of fruit trees. Mr. Tran Van Sau, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, highlighted, "We have completed the majority of local embankment projects in combination with transportation infrastructure, so the soil may become porous and prone to erosion during the dry season, leading to sedimentation in canals and ditches. As a result, the commune conducts annual dredging of canals and ditches, with a focus on reinforcing structural vulnerabilities to prevent tidal surges which can cause flooding during the rainy season."

Thanks to investments in the local irrigation structure, agricultural production has achieved high efficiency in terms of yield and quality. Agriculture Company 620 is investing in 15 hectares of Japanese purple sweet potatoes in Tan Thanh commune, with the aim of exporting to the Chinese market. Mr. Luan, an engineer employed at the company, highly regarded the local government's efforts in upgrading the irrigation infrastructure. Consequently, the sweet potato yield ranges from 60 to 70 tons per hectare.

Accelerating the progress of construction projects in 2023

The local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is focusing resources on completing projects carried over from 2022 and implementing new irrigation projects in 2023, such as the irrigation system serving aquaculture in Tam Binh district - Long Ho district; irrigation system in Song Phu, Phu Loc, Hau Loc, Hoa Loc, My Loc communes in Tam Binh district; irrigation system in Luc Si Islet - Tra On district (phase 2).

On the other hand, the province has also upgraded the local irrigation infrastructure, namely: the My Loc - My Thanh Trung - Long Phu - Song Phu irrigation system in Tam Binh district; Thanh Duc - Long My irrigation system in Long Ho district and Mang Thit district, riverbank erosion prevention embankment along the Tac Tu Tai River in Cai Von ward and Thanh Phuoc ward,Binh Minh city; riverbank erosion prevention embankment along the Cai Von Lon and Cai Von Nho rivers in My Hoa commune, Binh Minh city; riverbank erosion prevention embankment along Co Chien River (from the head of An Binh islet to An Binh ferry) and An Binh commune, Long Ho district; among many others.

Mr. Nguyen Van Liem, Deputy Director of Vinh Long province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the province is accelerating the progress of irrigation and drainage projects for agricultural production using provincial and central government investment funds. Additionally, he suggested local governments review the embankment and irrigation system, subsequently repair weakened and downgraded areas to protect local production.

The province has established an extensive irrigation system with over 400 embankment routes, totaling more than 3,600 kilometers, over 6,000 culverts, dams, 19 electric pump stations, 16 protective embankment routes along rivers, canals, and large ditches totaling nearly 14 kilometers, and nearly 4,400 canal routes, totaling over 5,300 kilometers. The existing irrigation system has been enclosed to actively irrigate over 94% of agricultural production areas, in addition to providing a foundation for the development of the road transport system.