Prepare contingency plans to avoid drought.
Currently, in the fields of Ai Tu commune, farmers have completed sowing the summer-autumn crop. Due to the constant challenges regarding water resources, from the beginning of the season, people have proactively built embankments to retain water and cleaned the canals.
Having just finished sowing 7.5 acres of rice fields, Mr. Do Khac Thu from Bich Khe village shared: “Farmers are strictly implementing irrigation according to the cooperative's announcement, taking advantage of early mornings and late evenings to build embankments and allow water to flow in promptly for thinning and replanting, preventing the fields from drying out.”
This year's summer-autumn crop in Ai Tu commune covers over 750 hectares, focusing on short-day and ultra-short-day rice varieties such as Khang Dan 18, Ha Phat 3, VNR20, etc.; high-quality rice accounts for over 80% of the area. The locality started sowing the first crop on May 15th and completed the entire sowing before May 30th. At Bich Khe General Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, the unit manages 38.5 hectares of drought-resistant short-day rice varieties such as HG244 and Bac Thinh.
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| Ai Tu Reservoir ensures a reserve of water for rotational watering of crops - Photo: Engineer |
Mr. Truong Dinh Hung, Director of the Cooperative, said: “The Cooperative encouraged farmers to clean their fields and retain water carefully. Thanks to the Gio Cam Ha Irrigation Enterprise distributing water in rotation, the canals still retain water well, helping to finish sowing before May 25th to avoid late-season floods.”
Ai Tu commune's water resources depend heavily on the Ai Tu reservoir (capacity 15.27 million m³) and the Nam Thach Han irrigation system. After the initial sowing discharge, the reservoir's capacity is at 61%, sufficient for five rotational irrigation cycles from now until the end of the season for the commune's rice fields. However, this system faces significant pressure as it has to perform a dual function.
Mr. Truong Van Hung, Director of Gio Cam Ha Irrigation Enterprise, shared: “For Ai Tu Reservoir, we have to harmoniously solve two problems: regulating water balance between Ai Tu and Nam Dong Ha areas while releasing water to create a source for drainage canals to pump up; and at the same time supplying water to Vinh Phuoc River to serve Tan Luong pumping station, providing water for people's daily use. The unit is closely coordinating with cooperatives to strictly implement rotational irrigation and focus on releasing water at the right time.”
Synchronizing water conservation solutions across the entire region.
Besides Ai Tu commune, Gio Cam Ha Irrigation Enterprise currently manages and operates the irrigation system for 9 communes and wards with a total area of 4,510 hectares, including 9 reservoirs. According to forecasts, the 2026 summer-autumn crop season is likely to experience widespread drought due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon.
After the initial water release for sowing reached 50% of the land's needs, the water reserves in reservoirs throughout the region are currently over 50% of their designed capacity. Reservoirs are continuing to release water to serve the remaining 30% of the planted area, ensuring adherence to the seasonal schedule.
To ensure water supply until the end of the season, the unit plans to organize approximately 5 rotational irrigation cycles across the system and has notified local authorities and cooperatives of the specific schedule. In anticipation of a severe drought, the unit has developed and implemented a comprehensive drought mitigation plan with many synchronized solutions. Regarding non-structural solutions, the unit is mobilizing people to build embankments and dams to retain water in the fields to minimize runoff; and is scientifically regulating water flow in primary and secondary canals to ensure water reaches the end of the canals, including remote areas.
Regarding engineering solutions, the enterprise has planned to dam drainage channels on rivers and streams to retain freshwater and create water sources; and is ready to mobilize mobile pumps and pumps owned by local people to supply water to areas at risk of localized drought.
Thanks to careful seed selection, sowing according to the schedule set by the government and cooperatives, combined with the rational water management of the Gio Cam Ha Irrigation Enterprise, the fields are currently receiving sufficient irrigation water for the rice plants to develop well, promising a high-yield summer-autumn crop.
Mr. Truong Van Hung, Director of Gio Cam Ha Irrigation Enterprise, further informed: “Localized droughts in remote areas and at the end of the canals can still occur. Therefore, we hope that local authorities and cooperatives will closely coordinate with the enterprise to combat drought and strictly manage the infrastructure. Local authorities need to support the protection of the infrastructure and clear any encroachments on the canal corridors to ensure smooth water flow. In the event of severe and prolonged drought, the enterprise will adjust the irrigation schedule and extend the irrigation rest period appropriately to both protect crops and maintain sufficient water until the end of the season.”
Ko Kan Suong
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202606/chu-dong-nguon-nuocvuhe-thu-785498b/
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