Localities in the Mekong Delta are at peak production and harvesting of winter-spring rice, fruit trees and seafood; This is also the time when the weather becomes unfavorable when drought and saltwater intrusion encroach deep into the mainland. Therefore, protecting production is being implemented fiercely by the authorities...
Closing the drain prevents salt water from getting inside
Although Hau Giang is a landlocked locality, in recent days, salt water following the tide of the West Sea has penetrated into Long My district and Vi Thanh city.
In mid-February 2, the salinity measured by authorities at some key points in Long My district and Vi Thanh city exceeded the 2024‰ mark. In particular, Vi Thanh City had a time when salinity suddenly increased to 2‰ at the Nuoc Trong intersection and 7,1‰ at the Lau canal area...
The Cai Lon - Cai Be sluice project (Kien Giang) is operating to prevent salinity to protect production for hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice in the provinces of Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu... from being affected by salinity during the year. dry season.
Mr. Vo Tu Phuong, Head of the Economic Department of Vi Thanh City, said: "In the area, there are many crops that are easily affected by high salt water, such as nearly 4.000 hectares of ripening winter-spring rice, along with about 4.300 hectares of edible crops. fruits and vegetables…
Therefore, when salt water returns early, the authorities immediately deploy many response solutions to protect production safety."
According to Mr. Phuong, currently 10 underground sewers have been closed to prevent saltwater intrusion; Operate and close 3 open drains to prevent saltwater from penetrating inside; At the same time, we send officials to closely monitor the developments of drought and saltwater intrusion to continue to respond appropriately in the coming days.
Showing us the ripening rice fields, Mr. Dang Van Hieu, living in Luong Nghia commune (Long My district, Hau Giang province), confided: "This year, rice is expensive so people are focusing their efforts on preventing saltwater intrusion. Protect rice in the near-harvest period to ensure a successful rice crop.
Currently, Mr. Hieu and many farmers in the area closely monitor developments in drought and salinity, proactively taking as much fresh water as possible when conditions allow to supplement rice fields. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Long My district, when salinity exceeded 1,5‰, the locality closed dozens of sluice gates to prevent salinity to protect more than 17.500 hectares of ripening winter-spring rice.
Thanks to the early implementation of solutions to prevent extreme weather, no damage has been recorded so far.
In Ben Tre, the weather also has disadvantages. Ms. Le Thi Thu, living in Vinh Thanh commune, Cho Lach district, shared: "The family has nearly 1 hectare of land to grow ornamental flowers, fruit trees and seedlings; These are plants that cannot tolerate high salinity.
Therefore, when hearing the news that this year's drought and saltwater intrusion came early and became complicated, the whole family implemented many coping solutions such as pruning branches, limiting fruit-bearing trees this season, and storing fresh water; Regularly contact specialized agencies to ask for timely support when drought and salinity become complicated...".
Ben Tre Provincial Hydrometeorological Station assessed that in March 3, there will be 2024 waves of saltwater intrusion from March 2 to 5 and from March 13 to 3. In April 23, there will continue to be two waves of saltwater intrusion from April 31 to April 3 and from April 4 to May 2024.
It is forecast that the deepest salinity intrusion line on rivers appearing in March is about 3km in Cua Dai river with a salinity of 50‰ in Tan Thach commune (Chau Thanh district); 4‰ salinity 4km deep on Co Chien river in Tan Thieng commune (Cho Lach district)...
In addition to operating and closing sluice gates to prevent salinity to protect production and domestic water, it is necessary to prevent the risk of coastal erosion; warning of dangerous hydrological phenomena accompanied by saltwater intrusion causing damage in aquaculture areas, orchards...
Store fresh water, maintain stable production
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ben Tre province recognizes that saltwater intrusion in the dry season of 2023-2024 appears early, deeply and lasts in the province at a level equivalent to and higher than the dry season of 2015-2016. Therefore, the Agriculture sector is coordinating with localities to mobilize people to store rainwater and fresh water to cope with prolonged drought and salinity conditions.
According to Mr. Ho Ngoc Hau, Deputy Director of Ben Tre Province Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited, the company is currently managing 1.695 sewer works, 1 electric pumping station, 2.575km of canals of all kinds, 433km of embankments and lakes. Ba Tri freshwater reservoir has a designed capacity of 811.800m3.
In recent days, the company has implemented urgent solutions to prevent saltwater intrusion and water shortage according to the direction of the Central Government and Ben Tre province. Specifically, culverts will be closed to prevent saltwater intrusion when salinity levels are high, ensuring water demand.
In case salinity decreases, we will increase the opening of fresh water at the upstream culverts and drain the downstream culverts to wash away saltwater, solving environmental pollution...
Farmers in Tien Giang store fresh water to ensure irrigation for orchards during the long drought and salinity season.
Mr. Nguyen Van Man, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang province, said: "It is forecast that salinity on the Tien River in the dry season of 2024 will penetrate 52-56km deep into the field.
In order to prevent salinity and protect internal fresh water sources to serve production and daily life of the people; The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang province has sent a document to the Irrigation Investment and Construction Management Board 10 (construction unit) to operate and close the saltwater prevention of Nguyen Tan Thanh sewer from March 7 until about mid-April, when Monitoring developments in saline intrusion will calculate the opening of sluice gates."
The leader of the Southern Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited, the unit operating the Cai Lon - Cai Be sewer super irrigation project (Kien Giang), said that from January 1 until now, when saltwater intrusion exceeds 2024‰ at Cai Tu station and salinity exceeds 1‰ at Tram Bau station, the company will operate and close the Cai Lon sluice gate from November 1 to 9 and close the Cai Be sluice gate to prevent salinity; During the closure of the sluice, vehicles move through the lock.
Currently, the company assigns many officers and engineers to closely monitor the salinity situation, monitor and check water levels and water quality; Update the production progress of hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice in the project area in the provinces of Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu... to ensure salinity prevention and adequate fresh water to serve the fields safely. paddy.
In addition, operate the sluice properly in providing water to dilute salinity for shrimp farming in coastal districts of Kien Giang province.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development requested specialized units and Mekong Delta localities to actively monitor weather and salinity developments; Conduct a review of building temporary dams to prevent salinity, repair and upgrade embankments and sluices to ensure both high tide and saltwater prevention.
Organize and operate irrigation works properly to capture the maximum amount of available fresh water for long-term storage; There are solutions to safely protect hundreds of thousands of hectares of fruit trees and winter-spring rice at risk of being affected.
There needs to be a detailed plan for areas and households that may be affected by lack of water in the dry season, in order to have solutions to ensure water supply for people and not let facilities lack fresh water to serve. production during the dry season...
Determined not to let people lack water for daily use during the dry season
According to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, in the dry season of 2023-2024, saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta is higher than the average for many years, equivalent to 2020-2021; During the peak period (around February to April 2), there may be a local shortage of fresh water and saltwater intrusion deep into the estuaries.
To proactively respond to the risk of saline drought and local water shortages, the Prime Minister requested Ministers and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to proactively respond to the risk of salinity drought, Water shortage during peak dry season months.
Closely monitor developments and have forecasts on water sources, water quality, risks of water shortage and saltwater intrusion; At the same time, deploying prevention, control and overcoming the consequences of saline drought and water shortage, limiting the impact on agricultural production, especially during the peak period of salinity drought.
Determine the level of impact on each area to proactively deploy specific response measures; instruct people to use water economically and effectively; Prioritize ensuring water supply for people, health facilities, education and other essential needs, and resolutely not let people lack water for daily use.
