Proactively respond to the risk of water shortage for spring irrigation

(Baonghean) - The spring crop of 2015 is forecasted to have a shortage of irrigation water at the end of the production season. At this time, the province's irrigation reservoirs do not have enough water reserves compared to previous years, which is a worrying situation. Meanwhile, according to forecasts, rainfall in the coming time will also be very low. Localities as well as management agencies need to have appropriate water regulation measures and propose feasible solutions to overcome the upcoming drought.

A common situation at most irrigation reservoirs in the province is that there is a lack of water, many places are seriously lacking. At Khe Go Lake in Nghi Cong Commune - Nghi Loc District, in previous years, at this time the water level in the lake reached 100% of its capacity, equivalent to 5.44 million m3, but this year the water level has only reached 38.6% of its capacity. Not only Khe Go Lake, but currently, many dams in the province do not store enough water compared to the design capacity of the dam. Of the 50 dams managed by enterprises, only 2 have reached 100% capacity: Khe Dua Lake and Lo Than Lake. However, both of these reservoirs have a design capacity of less than 500,000 m3, while most of the remaining reservoirs, although the rainy season has passed, have not reached 50% capacity. At Khe Thi Lake (Nghi Loc), with a designed capacity of 2.65 million cubic meters, it currently only stores 1.92 million cubic meters. "The current water level is 4 meters lower than previous years, only meeting the irrigation needs of 40 hectares of winter-spring crop, the rest will be affected by drought" - said Mr. Nguyen Lien Phuong - Khe Thi Lake management officer.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspects Khe Thi Lake (Nghi Loc).

Irrigation water for agricultural production is often taken from dams and rivers through pumping stations or self-flowing systems. The water level in reservoirs and river systems is affected by the amount of rainfall during the year. The whole province has 625 dams storing water for agricultural production. In the spring crop of 2015 alone, it is necessary to ensure irrigation for 103,000 hectares of food crops, of which 86,000 hectares are rice. Unlike previous years, the average total rainfall in 2014 was only 1,298.2mm, lower than the average of the same period in many years of 370.2mm, lower than 2013 of 798.4mm, which makes the reservoirs unable to store the necessary amount of water. According to statistics from the Irrigation Department, although it is the end of the rainy season, the amount of water stored in reservoirs is only 50 - 60%. Thus, the risk of water shortage in 2015 is forecasted to be quite serious. The Northern Nghe An Irrigation System has the main task of operating Para Do Luong and 16 dams to serve agricultural production for more than 65,000 hectares of agricultural land and provide water for people's lives and production, aquaculture of 4 districts Do Luong, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau and Quynh Luu. However, currently, the water level in the reservoirs here is only 50 - 55% compared to a normal year. Meanwhile, the Southern Irrigation System is located at the end of the water source, so the risk of water shortage is even more serious. Discussing measures to ensure irrigation water for the 2015 spring crop, Mr. Thai Van Hung - Deputy Director of Nam Irrigation Company Limited recommended: "Farmers in areas with difficult water sources should take advantage of pumping water from canals to have water for planting. For projects, we will inspect and maintain machinery, canals, especially canals; we will isolate drought areas, install field pumps, and request local authorities to coordinate and organize rotational pumping to ensure that both upstream and downstream areas have water to pump."

Faced with difficulties in irrigation water sources in the spring crop of 2015, localities have also had response plans to ensure enough irrigation water until the end of the production season. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee confirmed: "In 2015, there will be drought, the lakes will not have enough water, so Nghi Loc district will proactively convert part of the rice growing area to growing other crops. In addition, the district assigned communes, sectors and people to clear the flow, irrigate economically to ensure enough irrigation for the spring crop"

The reservoir system in the whole province has not yet stored enough water for irrigation, which means that in the spring crop of 2015, farmers will have to face the possibility of a prolonged drought. Therefore, from now on, units, localities as well as farmers need to proactively take measures to cope with the risk of drought. To be proactive in regulating water, according to Mr. Nguyen Van De - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in addition to moving unstable areas of water, highland areas to grow other suitable crops, localities must save water, when taking water, there must be a plan. Localities need to inform people to focus on taking water at each time, absolutely not to waste water. Irrigation management units need to prepare well plans to combat drought, prepare pumps, clear the flow, dredge canals, repair works to avoid wasting water in order to save irrigation resources for the development stages of rice throughout the crop season.

Vinh Thao