Growing cassava in Dau Tieng Lake.

Irrigation systems are in place in the semi-flooded areas where cassava was previously grown.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Quan (residing in Suoi Da commune, Duong Minh Chau district), a farmer who has been growing cassava in Dau Tieng reservoir for many years, said that this land is semi-submerged land belonging to the Dau Tieng reservoir irrigation project. People take advantage of the empty land when the water recedes to grow cassava to earn extra income. People try to plant cassava as early as possible to harvest it before the rising water season (around August-December in the lunar calendar).

According to Mr. Quan, because the locals are familiar with the annual rise and fall of the lake's water level, they can relatively determine (except in cases of unusually high water levels due to natural disasters) where to plant cassava to minimize flooding. People plant cassava according to the receding water level and harvest it according to the rising water level. Cassava in higher areas or near the lake's edge is planted earliest but harvested later than in areas planted later towards the lake.

Workers are planting cassava in semi-flooded land.

Sharing more about the income from cassava cultivation, Mr. Quan said that the investment capital for 1 hectare of cassava on semi-flooded land until harvest is from 10-15 million VND, depending on the location and type of soil (whether it's sandy or not). For sandy soil, cassava growers have to invest more in fertilizer and irrigation. This doesn't include the cost of harvesting the cassava and transporting the tubers to the purchasing point. If the cassava tubers are sold at a price of 2,500 VND/kg or more, after deducting all costs, cassava growers will earn over 20 million VND/ha.

"The semi-submerged land in Dau Tieng Lake has created income and livelihoods for many people," Mr. Quan confided.

Truong Lo

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/trong-mi-trong-ho-dau-tieng-a169796.html