Degraded irrigation system - agricultural production "faces difficulties"

In recent times, irrigation units in the province have implemented many measures to preserve water resources during droughts and ensure drainage during storms. However, the system of pumping stations is degraded and damaged, many dams are leaking and drying up, which are factors that make proactive drought prevention and drainage difficult.

Tuong Van Pumping Station is responsible for draining 1,600 hectares of crops in 3 communes: Truong Van, Tuong Linh and Thang Binh. Because it was built in 1977, the pipeline system, station house and pumps are leaking and damaged quite a lot. The pumping station can only operate 4 out of 8 pumps, because if all pumps are operated at a capacity of 4000 ^m3 /hour, the floor will shake and the working platform can collapse at any time.

Construction items at Tuong Van pumping station are now degraded and damaged, causing difficulties for production service.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of Nong Cong Irrigation Branch, the pumping station works in the area under the unit's management have been damaged and eroded, and the staff and workers have implemented many measures to ensure production and drainage. However, in the long term, support from provincial departments and branches is needed to build new and repair large items.

According to reports from irrigation companies in the province, out of 891 pumping stations for irrigation, drainage and combined irrigation, 412 pumping stations have been or are being degraded. The construction time is too long, and there is a lack of capital for repair and upgrading, so the ability to operate and supply irrigation and drainage water is always limited.

Another obstacle leading to the inadequate irrigation and drainage capacity of the works is that most of the canals in the fields are silted up, the banks and roofs of the canals are eroded, and the cross-section is deformed compared to the design. Of the 610 reservoirs and 1,023 weirs in the province, 86 are seriously degraded, 14 cannot store water, and many places have been eroded and severely damaged due to the impact of storms and rains.

Mr. Khuong Ba Luan, General Director of Song Chu One Member Co., Ltd., said: "Through the review, it shows that the degraded irrigation system will greatly affect production services. Broken canals and damaged pumping stations at key locations will further deteriorate and greatly limit production assurance if there is no funding for repair."

Canal works in Trieu Son commune were eroded, degraded and severely damaged due to the impact of storms and rains.

In the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, according to the forecast of Thanh Hoa Irrigation Sub-Department, the areas irrigated by lakes and small dams in the mountainous and midland areas of Thanh Hoa are likely to experience severe drought.

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed irrigation units to coordinate with localities to review and inspect the water source situation to promote the conversion of crop structure; thoroughly implement measures of water-saving irrigation, rotational irrigation, promote dry season irrigation, focus on dredging discharge tanks and collecting garbage.

However, in the long term, irrigation units hope that the Provincial People's Committee will have a plan to allocate funds to upgrade and repair the system of pumping stations and dams to ensure safety and store more water.

Thanh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/he-thong-cong-trinh-thuy-loi-xuong-cap-san-xuat-nong-nghiep-gap-kho-270828.htm