Cho Gao District: Proactively preventing and combating drought and saltwater intrusion.

Currently, water levels in the sloping and inland canals are low. To ensure water supply for production, Binh Phuc Nhut commune is encouraging residents to proactively build pumping stations to transfer water from the first and second-level canals to the inland canals for irrigation, aiming to minimize damage under the current weather conditions. Furthermore, the commune is encouraging residents to use straw mulch to retain moisture, maintain water hygiene, and practice water-saving irrigation. When the inland canals have water, households will install pumping stations to irrigate their orchards and crops.

Báo Tiền Giang•31/03/2025

(ABO) Faced with the fluctuating drought and salinity levels, and with the sharp drop in water levels in inland canals in recent days, the authorities and people of the communes in Cho Gao district, Tien Giang province, have proactively implemented measures to prevent and combat drought and salinity in order to ensure a sufficient supply of freshwater for irrigation. This aims to minimize damage to agricultural production and the daily lives of the people.

Cho Gao District has 7,255 hectares of coconut trees, 8,874 hectares of other fruit trees, including 6,735 hectares of dragon fruit, along with many other types of crops. Proactively implementing solutions to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion, starting from the beginning of 2025, the district is urgently dredging silted canals and ditches to create unobstructed water flow and store freshwater for agricultural production.

Dredging of inland canals.

Mr. Pham Thanh Chung, from Binh Ninh hamlet, Binh Phuc Nhut commune, said that his family grows dragon fruit on an area of about 7,000 ^m2 . In recent days, the canal along the slope has dried up, making it impossible to pump water to irrigate the dragon fruit garden. His family had to install a water transfer pump from the 3-2 canal to the canal along the slope so that his family and neighboring households could irrigate their crops.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Van Be, from Binh Tho Trung hamlet, Binh Phan commune, learned from previous droughts and salinity intrusion and proactively secured irrigation water for his crops, not relying on government assistance. Mr. Be stated that his family, along with other residents of Binh Tho Trung hamlet, proactively contributed funds and labor to install pumping stations connecting the Cau Sat canal to the surrounding canals to irrigate dragon fruit, corn, and other crops.

Actively ensure adequate irrigation water for crops.

The people proactively ensure a water supply for irrigating their crops.

Before pumping water, the side canals are cleaned to create clear channels, facilitating pumping and water storage. Thanks to the proactive and timely installation of pumping points, the freshwater supply for irrigation remains sufficient, and crops thrive.

In recent days, the Xuan Hoa sluice gate in Xuan Dong commune, Cho Gao district, has been operating to draw water, causing the water levels in the first and second-level canals to rise. This creates favorable conditions for people to pump and store water for agricultural production.

Given the fluctuating drought and saltwater intrusion situation, people need to proactively take preventive measures and check salinity levels before irrigating crops. Self-reliance, not depending on government support, and solidarity among local people in overcoming difficulties are essential. People also need to continue monitoring and updating the drought and salinity situation daily, proactively store freshwater, maintain water hygiene, and use water sparingly; properly care for and protect crops, contributing to ensuring productivity and economic stability.

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