River "swallows" rice fields, people worry about losing their livelihoods

The Ayun River is about 17km long, originating from Kon Ka Kinh National Park, flowing through the agricultural production area of ​​Ayun commune (Gia Lai province), and is currently suffering from serious erosion.

Along both banks, the riverbed was deeply gouged, each field, rice field, cassava field, and coffee plantation was "eroded" by the water every day; in some places, with just a slight push of the foot, pieces of soil collapsed into the rushing water. To preserve the soil, people planted eucalyptus trees, but the roots could not withstand the force of the water, many were swept away, leaving only jagged roots. There was a landslide nearly 5m deep, creating a dangerous cliff that people did not dare to approach.

Mr. Huih (Plei Atur village) used to have 4 sao of rice fields along the river, but many years ago, the entire area was "swallowed" by the Ayun River. Sitting in the middle of the dry riverbed, Mr. Huih's face was filled with sadness. He said that his family's rice fields had turned into riverbeds and rocks, making it impossible to cultivate, and his family's life was increasingly difficult.

According to Mr. Dinh Hyui, Head of Plei Atur village, the riverbed through the village was only about 6m wide before, but due to prolonged erosion, it has now widened to more than 100m. Many areas of rice fields and cassava fields were washed away, affecting more than 100 households. In addition, the whole village has about 600ha of rice land, but currently only one crop can be cultivated, the remaining crop must be abandoned due to the river drying up and the soil being eroded.

Mr. Mai Thanh Chung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ayun Commune, said that the erosion of the Ayun River has affected the lives of people in villages 1, Nhon Bong, Doan Ket, Plei Atur, Plei Bong and Bong Pim. Currently, Ayun Commune has included the project to build a 5km embankment to prevent erosion and a dam to retain water in the medium-term public investment portfolio for the period 2026-2030. If built, the project will help protect productive land, maintain irrigation water sources, restore cultivated areas, create conditions for people to produce two rice crops, stabilize thousands of hectares of coffee, thereby improving people's lives and improving the appearance of the countryside.

LUCK

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/song-nuot-dat-ruong-dan-lo-mat-sinh-ke-post827176.html