Watering resources to be rationalized for agriculture production

El Nino has brought about severe draught troubling agriculture production. To response to the situation, provincial Department of Irrigation has implemented synchronous measures including the regulation of watering resources at irrigation constructions servicing agricultural production. By now, the water supply for watering of plants, especially the short-term winter-spring crops has been maintained.

Water sources ensured

According to the department, water levels are 13.9m, 34.4m, 23.5m, and 61.3m at Can Nom Lake, Da Ban Lake, Doc Nhan Lake, and Suoi Giai Lake accordingly. For the year, it is expected that the winter-spring crops would be adjourned of watering by April 2016. For the mentioned water levels, Can Nom Lake and Suoi Giai Lake can exceed the watering amounts to be needed for winter-spring and summer-autumn crops; Da Ban Lake would have enough water for watering in winter-spring crops and 152 ha of summer-autumn crops; Doc Nhan Lake would have enough water for winter-spring crops, not for summer-autumn crops of 2016.

The irrigation system is synchronously maintained to ensure year-round production. In this photo: farmers of Thanh Hoi Commune in Tan Uyen Town are working for the crops. Photo: Quynh Nhien

Currently, irrigation system in agriculture production zones of the province has been synchronously invested into, offering enough water for rice and vegetable crops. Duong Van Hung, a local of Bach Dang Commune in Tan Uyen Town, informed that the local thoroughly invested irrigation system has well serviced the watering of rice and vegetable crops from their time of preparation to crop harvest. Thus, the 4,200m2 vegetable farm of his family has been assured with capacity and stable quality year on year. Meanwhile, Mai Huu Hiep, a farmer of Thanh Hoi Commune in Tan Uyen Town, informed that he has been preparing soil for the vegetable crops which would be mainly watered by underground and river water. For 2,000m2 of soil ready for seeding, water sources are assured.

Dykes are improved

In Bac Tan Uyen and Tan Uyen Town, 13 irrigation constructions include 2 water lakes, 2 rolling weirs, and 9 high capacity pumping stations of 850 cubic meters per hour. Those irrigation constructions have been effective to assure watering resources for agriculture production in the district. Thus, the areas left free due to draught will be drastically reduced, helping farmers maintain year-round cultivation to increase income and develop household businesses. This is one of the measures to effectively make use of soil resources, effectively promoting sustainable agriculture growth.

According to an unnamed representative of Tan Uyen Town Agriculture and Irrigation Station, local irrigation constructions have been reviewed with planning and estimation for dredging while maintaining the pumping systems to service production. Under estimation, the expenses for renovation of production constructions in 2016 is over VND 220 million.

To assure water sources in draught, the managerial agencies of water sources have coordinated with localities to agree upon watering schedule and scale of particular constructions and wide notification to farmers for suitable measures. For the pumping stations, the Department of Irrigation will coordinate with localities to dredge the waterways and boost pumping to improve the services. Equipment will be maintained and repaired to be available for production. For the embankment of Saigon River, the department would enhance operation management and regulate underground drains to prevent salination while supplying water for watering and the long-term close of the drains which can lead to salination and plant death.

Reported by Quynh Nhien – Translated by Vi Bao