SGGPO
Every year, from July to October in the lunar calendar, floodwaters from the upper reaches of the Mekong River inundate the fields downstream. This year, even though it's already the end of July in the lunar calendar, the floodwaters in the fields are only knee-deep. Farmers in many areas of the Mekong Delta are eagerly awaiting the floodwaters so they can make a living.
Seeing the floodwaters approaching, Mr. Nam (Tan Hung district, Long An province) paddled his boat across the fields, casting nets to catch fish and shrimp to improve his family's meals. He checked his nets every four hours, but only caught a few small shrimp and tilapia. "In previous years, when the floods were big, we caught a lot of fish and shrimp, not only for eating but also to sell to traders. This year the flood was small, a failure...", Mr. Nam said sadly.
Like Mr. Nam, for the past month, many other farmers in Tan Hung district (Long An province) have been repairing nets and preparing boats... in anticipation of a bountiful flood season, but so far it remains just hope!
 |
Although the floodwaters are very low, people have already started pulling in their nets and harvesting vegetables. |
 |
The floodwaters were low, and the produce was scarce, barely enough to feed the family. |
While their husbands and sons are casting nets, many women in the Thap Muoi region ( Dong Thap province ) paddle boats to pull up sedges, cut water spinach, and pick Sesbania flowers...
Following Provincial Road 831, we arrived in Vinh Hung district (Long An province). Around the flooded rice fields, a few farmers were paddling boats and pulling nets. Many families used nets as embankments to raise ducklings, allowing them to forage for food in the fields, saving them the effort of caring for them.
 |
Besides picking vegetables, the women also took the opportunity to pull in the fishing nets. |
Struggling to remove debris and mend the tears in his soaking wet net, Mr. Hai Nga (Lo Gach hamlet, Vinh Tri commune, Vinh Hung district) said that he had spent the whole morning casting his net but only caught a few small fish and eels.
 |
Drying and repairing the nets. |
Mr. Hai Nga said that in previous years, at this time, his children and grandchildren would help untangle the nets on the flooded fields so they could bring the fresh fish and shrimp to the market in time. Not only seafood, but also water lilies bloomed a vibrant purple, and the yellow wildflowers covered a corner of the river. For the past two years, the floods have been late. "I don't know if the floods will come again...", Mr. Hai Nga worried about another flood season resulting in lost harvest.
 |
Mr. Dao Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Tri commune, said that perhaps this year is a leap year, so the floodwaters haven't arrived yet. Currently, the number of fish and shrimp is very small; people are setting nets and traps but are not catching much. The local authorities are hoping for the flood season to arrive to help people make a living and have an additional source of income.
 |
Source
Comment (0)