As floodwaters rise, An Giang province mobilizes militia to build dams and reinforce dikes to protect rice crops.

Faced with rising floodwaters, the authorities of Co To and Vinh Gia communes (An Giang province) mobilized militia and self-defense forces to urgently build dams and reinforce dikes to protect rice crops.

According to the head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, in many areas where floodwaters have risen, the local authorities have reinforced dikes to protect rice production for farmers - Photo: MINH KHANG

On October 25th, Mr. Nguyen Van Van, chairman of the People's Committee of Co To commune, An Giang province, stated that due to rising floodwaters, the commune has mobilized numerous officials and soldiers from the military and militia forces to urgently build dams and reinforce vulnerable dikes over the past few days.

Currently, the entire commune has 7,971 hectares of land for the 2025 autumn-winter crop. 984 out of 1,279 hectares of rice outside the dike have been harvested, with a yield of 5.2 tons/hectare and a selling price of 4,000 to 5,800 VND/kg. Rice in the three-crop sub-regions is mainly in the tillering to heading stage, developing well, and the disease situation is stable.

"Rice crops in the three-crop sub-regions are mainly in the tillering to heading stages, developing well, and the disease situation is stable. Currently, floodwaters are higher than the same period last year, so the water level inside and outside the dike differs by nearly 1 meter. We have deployed forces to continuously patrol and protect the dike to promptly reinforce vulnerable sections," Mr. Van said.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Vinh, chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Gia commune, An Giang province, 16 hectares of rice fields outside the dike belonging to one household were submerged by floodwaters, with estimated losses exceeding 160 million VND. In addition, 9 hectares of crops belonging to local people that had not yet been harvested were also submerged by the floods.

"The areas within the dike system are all safe. However, the 16 hectares of rice fields outside the dike, which were planted just over a month ago, have been submerged. Before this household planted the rice, the local authorities had tried to persuade them and held discussions with them, but they still deliberately proceeded with planting," Mr. Vinh said.

For several days now, the authorities of Co To commune have mobilized forces to reinforce vulnerable dikes in response to rising floodwaters - Photo: MINH KHANG

Regarding this matter, Mr. Tran Thanh Hiep, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, said that many localities in the province had planted rice outside the dike system, so they were severely damaged by floodwaters. Specifically, the areas of Ba Chuc, Vinh Gia, Co To, etc. Local authorities are urgently reinforcing the dikes to help the people.

"The spontaneous planting of rice outside the dike by local people was not part of the plan, but the damage is insignificant. According to forecasts from relevant authorities, the high tide period will continue until the 15th day of the 9th lunar month, and the water will gradually recede. Once the government completes the dike reinforcement, the people will feel more secure," Mr. Hiep said.

BUU DAU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nuoc-lu-dang-an-giang-huy-dong-dan-quan-dap-dap-gia-co-de-bao-ve-lua-20251025104830074.htm