Revive fields and crops

Storm No. 11 caused unprecedented damage in Thai Nguyen, flooding tens of thousands of hectares of productive land and affecting about 200,000 households. Overcoming difficulties, the entire political system and people of the whole province are urgently restoring infrastructure and production, especially agricultural production, with the determination to soon stabilize their lives.

Farmers in Dong Hy commune spray organic biological products to nourish tea. Photo: TL

In the days after the flood, the atmosphere of work has returned to many fields that were once buried. In village 4, Cho Moi commune, more than 35 hectares of corn and rice, along with 4 hectares of fish ponds and a number of irrigation works, were severely damaged. Despite the total loss, people still proactively planted the winter crop in the spirit of not waiting or relying on others. The flood caused heavy destruction, but also left a thick layer of alluvium, creating conditions for the land to recover quickly if production started early.

Mr. Hoang Van Thuong, village 4, shared: My family had 5,000 square meters of corn and rice fields that were about to be harvested when the flood washed them all away. For now, my family is working the land, buying corn and potato seeds to plant in the winter, hoping to make up for some of the damage.

The entire Cho Moi commune had nearly 245 hectares of crops affected, of which more than 70% of the rice, corn and annual crops were lost. Nearly 39 thousand poultry and 48 honeybee colonies were swept away; about 25 hectares of aquaculture ponds had their banks broken, the water overflowed, causing the entire yield to be lost.

Mr. Tran Manh Cuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cho Moi Commune, said: Immediately after the flood receded, the commune established a team to review and count the extent of damage. Based on the natural disaster support fund of more than 5 billion VND allocated by the province, we have made a list, approved and expected to complete payment to the people before October 30. Traffic and irrigation works have also been reviewed and urgent repair records have been prepared to serve production.

People of Cho Moi commune urgently prepare the land to plant winter crops.

The province's main crop, tea, also suffered heavy damage, with more than 533 hectares deeply flooded, mud covering the roots, and the risk of a 20-30% yield reduction if not cared for promptly. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has sent technical staff to guide farmers on drainage, pruning, root restoration and disease prevention; and has also provided dozens of tons of recovery materials. If properly intervened in the first 30 days, about 90% of the tea area can recover its basic productivity.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, and his delegation went directly to Thai Nguyen to support and guide grassroots officials and people on measures to "save" flooded tea areas.

Prolonged rains and floods have also caused great damage to the livestock industry, with more than 364,000 cattle and poultry killed and swept away. Many large-scale farms were deeply flooded, barns damaged, and there is a potential risk of disease outbreaks if not handled promptly.

Faced with this situation, the Department of Agriculture and Environment and local authorities have activated emergency epidemic prevention measures, distributed disinfectants, provided guidance on disinfection and cleaning of barns; and reviewed damage to implement policies to support herd restoration. This initiative helps prevent the risk of a "double crisis" of natural disasters and epidemics, ensuring the supply of agricultural products and stabilizing the market in the province.

Post-flood production recovery must begin with irrigation and drainage. However, the province's irrigation system has been severely damaged, with 53 lakes and dams; 38 pumping stations; more than 10km of canals damaged; many dykes potentially at risk of being unsafe. Total damage to irrigation and dykes alone is estimated at about 100 billion VND.

Not only the localities, the irrigation management force in the province also took part with the highest proactive spirit. Thai Nguyen Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited has promptly deployed plans to protect the works, on duty 24/24 hours at key locations to promptly respond when the water level rises.

Immediately after the water receded, the unit urgently cleaned up, dredged mud, temporarily repaired canals and pumping stations, ensured irrigation water, drainage, and supported people to plant winter crops on time. Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai, Director of Thai Nguyen Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited, said: Currently, the unit is focusing all its forces and means to temporarily fix the problem, ensuring water supply for production.

Thai Nguyen Irrigation Exploitation Company mobilized forces to repair damaged irrigation works after floods.

The historic flood caused by storm No. 11 caused serious inundation in 54 communes and wards, affecting about 200,000 households; more than 14,800 hectares of crops, 364,000 livestock and poultry, and 903 hectares of aquatic products were damaged, with a total estimated damage of up to 12,600 billion VND.

However, in difficult times, the spirit of "fast, urgent, focused, timely" is becoming the driving force for the government and people to restore fields, infrastructure and production day by day.

According to the Department of Finance, immediately after the flood, the unit advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue two decisions on allocating funds to overcome the consequences. To date, the province has allocated 366 billion VND to support localities, of which 137 billion VND is reserved for the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors.

Natural disasters test the will, but also arouse the solidarity of the army and people of Thai Nguyen. From the spirit of "4 on-the-spot" in storm prevention and control, to the decision to recover immediately after the flood recedes, all aim at the common goal of restoring production, ensuring social security, and building a safer life before natural disasters.

We believe that on the fertile alluvial layer left after the flood, Thai Nguyen's crops will be green again, like the perseverance and resilience of the people here, contributing to building a green, sustainable agriculture that adapts to climate change.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/202510/hoi-sinh-dong-ruong-mua-mang-25104a1/