Various types of machinery are being used urgently to prepare the land so that farmers can replant rice - Photo: D.V.
" Tilting the field to let the water flow into the river."
Villages such as Phu Kinh, An Tho, Hung Nhon... in Hai Phong commune have long been the lowest-lying flood-prone areas of Hai Lang district.
Following the O Lau River, we made our way to Phu Kinh village, one of the areas where hundreds of hectares of rice fields were severely flooded and damaged. Along the flood control dikes, dozens of diesel and gasoline pumps were lined up at various points, their engines roaring and emitting smoke. Muddy yellow water was being pumped from the fields through large pipes into the nearby O Lau River.
Dozens of farmers, young and old, took turns standing guard, piling up soil to reinforce the fields, operating the pumps, and checking fuel levels. Meanwhile, during the days when the entire village was urgently pumping out floodwaters, the women busied themselves preparing meals and drinks for the men working in the fields. A hurried, urgent atmosphere prevailed as the villagers united in their determination to salvage what they had by securing a "new crop."
Having been present almost all night for the past six days at the drainage pumping station, Le Phuoc Dieu, Director of Phu Kinh Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, looked quite haggard and tired. He said wearily, "This time, in addition to the electric pumping station operating 24/7, the cooperative has also mobilized 6 diesel pumps and 35 gasoline pumps from local people to drain the floodwaters."
Nearly a week after all the pumps were put into operation simultaneously, the water level in the fields has dropped by almost 1 meter. At this rate, we can prepare the land for replanting in about two days. The entire cooperative has 185.4 hectares of rice fields that were completely flooded and damaged, requiring 100% replanting.”
For now, the cooperative is covering all the fuel costs for pumping out floodwaters. In recent days, the people of Phu Kinh village have been working hard to pump out the floodwaters, but they have also unfortunately encountered many thunderstorms, making things even more difficult. According to Mr. Dieu, the rice seeds provided by the government have now arrived at the cooperative, basically meeting almost all the needs of the people.
Residents of Phu Kinh village are on duty 24/7 to drain water from flooded rice fields after heavy rains - Photo: D.V.
Looking out at the vast expanse of waterlogged fields, with some plots already beginning to dry up, revealing young rice plants whose stems and leaves have rotted after being submerged for so long, Mr. Mai Thanh Binh felt deeply saddened. “I am 71 years old this year, and I have never witnessed such a massive summer flood before.”
"The rice seedlings, sown less than a month ago, have been submerged for almost two weeks now. Seeing the young rice plants completely damaged is heartbreaking for us farmers. Each plot of land costs over 600,000 dong for land preparation, fertilizer, and seeds. My family, cultivating two acres, has suffered losses of over 12 million dong. Replanting would require the same amount of money, so we are in a very difficult situation," Mr. Binh shared.
Villagers in An Tho hamlet operate the water pumps to drain floodwaters at night - Photo: D.V.
Operating a water pump under the midday sun, Mr. Phan Trai (65 years old) shared the same feelings of worry and sadness when talking about this flood. Mr. Trai said: “The lives of the people here mainly depend on rice cultivation, so if we don't work, we won't have anything to eat, and we don't know how to make ends meet. Leaving the fields fallow means we won't be able to resume production until 2026, which is a very long time. At that time, the cost and effort required to improve the fields will be enormous. So, even though we face the risk of natural disasters, especially the floods around the beginning of September every year, we are determined to replant with the mindset of 'as long as there's water, we'll keep pumping.' If God is merciful and the flood comes later, then we will benefit.”
Planting a "new crop" amidst anxiety and apprehension.
These days, many rice fields in the low-lying villages of Hai Phong commune, which have been flooded for extended periods, are suffering from rotting stems and leaves floating on the water's surface. In higher areas, where the rice plants escaped the flooding, they have also rotted and withered, and farmers are painstakingly preparing the land to replant.
According to Cai Van Vinh, Director of the An Tho Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative: The entire cooperative has 238.8 hectares of flooded land, requiring 100% replanting. To facilitate replanting, from June 20th to the present, the cooperative has mobilized a 3-pipe electric pumping station and 30 gasoline and diesel pumps from villagers to drain the floodwaters. It is expected that the fields will be completely drained in about 3 days, allowing for land preparation and replanting.
Mr. Vinh added that, due to the relatively high price of rice seeds on the market, farmers plan to use rice varieties such as An Sinh 1399 and BDR 57 (+-90 days) as seeds to shorten the harvesting time and avoid flooding. After replanting, the cooperative advises people to focus on tending the plants, stimulating growth, and eliminating pests, rats, and golden apple snails... to ensure the rice plants develop quickly.
Accompanying us to the fields, the Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong Commune People's Committee, Cai Van Cu, informed us: The recent unusual flood caused severe inundation of a total of 1,130 hectares of summer-autumn rice crops throughout the commune. The most severe damage occurred in villages such as Phu Kinh (over 185 hectares), An Tho (250 hectares), and Hung Nhon (200 hectares)... According to statistics, the majority of the fields were completely destroyed, requiring replanting on 1,100 hectares.
“To date, we have instructed cooperatives to inform people to register for state-supported seed sources. The seed sources are basically sufficient to meet the needs of farmers for replanting,” Mr. Cu said. The entire Hai Phong commune currently has 7 cooperatives and 1 cooperative group, mainly engaged in agricultural production, with rice being the main crop.
Being the lowest-lying area, floodwaters receded the slowest in villages such as Phu Kinh, An Tho, and Hung Nhon. Determined not to abandon their fields and to try to replant a "new crop" to ensure their livelihoods in the coming period, about a week after the floodwaters receded, cooperatives in Hai Phong commune mobilized hundreds of pumps of all types and maximum manpower to drain the floodwaters.
To date, some higher-lying fields, such as those in An Tho and Hung Nhon villages, have begun preparing the land for replanting. The villagers of Phu Kinh are also urgently preparing fertilizers and seeds so that they can prepare the land and replant as soon as the water recedes.
“Besides using the shortest possible growing season, local farmers are now determined to quickly sow and then focus on caring for the rice plants to ensure good growth so that they can harvest the rice before September to avoid flooding. Although it's already a month behind the usual planting schedule, everyone is determined to replant. Hopefully, with the farmers' focused care, this rice crop will withstand the upcoming rains and floods,” Mr. Cu shared.
To help people overcome the damage and alleviate difficulties in the coming period, Mr. Cu suggested that competent authorities should soon provide support in accordance with the policies of Government Decree No. 9/2025/ND-CP on policies to support agricultural production to restore production in areas damaged by natural disasters and plant pests; consider supporting electricity and fuel costs for flood control units for extended periods; and support reducing interest rates on bank loans for households borrowing capital for agricultural production purposes. At the same time, support should be provided to repair agricultural production infrastructure, especially vulnerable sections of dikes damaged by the recent floods.
Duc Viet
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/trang-dem-tieu-ung-gieo-vu-moi-194596.htm
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