Over 700 hectares of winter-spring rice crops are experiencing water shortages.

Recently, representatives from Da Nhim - Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydropower Joint Stock Company (DHD Company), Binh Thuan Irrigation Works Exploitation One-Member Limited Liability Company, along with leaders of the People's Committees of Tanh Linh and Duc Linh districts, conducted a field inspection of the water supply situation in the downstream area of the Ham Thuan - Da Mi dam and reservoir in Tanh Linh and Duc Linh districts.

Inspections have revealed that the area for the 2023-2024 winter-spring crop in Tanh Linh and Duc Linh districts is approximately 17,000 hectares. Currently, 726 hectares are experiencing drought and water shortages (including 126 hectares of drought-affected land, mainly concentrated in Duc Linh district) and 600 hectares of water-deficient land (470 hectares in Tanh Linh district). According to farmers, the water shortage has been ongoing since after the Lunar New Year. Sections of the main North canal running through Duc Linh district have cracked earth. Many diesel pumps placed along the canal have been ready for a long time, but water has yet to arrive. Farmers in Tanh Linh and Duc Linh districts are anxiously awaiting the arrival of cool water to save their rice fields from drought and water scarcity.

A representative from Da Nhim - Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydropower Joint Stock Company stated: As of February 28, 2024, the average water inflow into Ham Thuan reservoir was 10.4 ^m³ /s, and the reservoir water level was at an elevation of 600.7m; the Ham Thuan - Da Mi hydropower plant complex has been operating its generators and supplying water to the downstream area of the dam and reservoir with an average flow rate of 32 ^m³ /s in January 2024.

Given the current severe drought, the current water flow from the hydropower plants is insufficient to meet agricultural production needs. Therefore, the leaders of the People's Committees of Tanh Linh and Duc Linh districts have requested the Da Nhim – Ham Thuan – Da Mi Hydropower Joint Stock Company to promptly operate the hydropower plant complex with an average daily flow of at least 40 ^m³ /s and a minimum operating time of 14 hours per day. The two localities will implement a suitable water usage plan under the current drought conditions; carry out dredging, clearing, and repair of irrigation canals to ensure water supply for agricultural production. At the same time, they will strengthen public awareness campaigns to encourage people to use water economically and rationally; and maximize the use of available water from ponds and reservoirs for irrigating crops, especially rice in the 2023-2024 winter-spring season.

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