Do Luong: Drought threatens summer-autumn crop production.

(Baonghean.vn) - For the summer-autumn crop season, Do Luong district planned to plant 7,200 hectares. However, to date, only about 3,500 hectares have secured sufficient water for planting. The remaining areas are facing the risk of water shortage due to the low water level of the Lam River, which has rendered many pumping stations along the river inoperable. In addition, water levels in reservoirs and dams are at their lowest, at only about 30-35% of their capacity.

The pumping station in Trung Son commune, which received an investment of 18 billion VND for upgrades, cannot operate due to the low water level of the Lam River (photo taken on the afternoon of June 5, 2014).

In the two communes along the Lam River, Thuan Son and Trung Son, the pumping stations are unable to operate. These localities are making efforts to hire machinery to dig additional water channels from the Lam River to the pumping stations. According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the People's Committee of Trung Son commune: “The commune's pumping station was upgraded with 18 billion VND from the province, but it is currently inoperable due to the low water level of the Lam River. The government, together with the agricultural cooperative, has allocated 10 million VND from irrigation fees to hire machinery to dig deeper water channels to the pumping station. Currently, 4 out of 8 hamlets in the commune are waiting for water to cultivate their fields and plant summer-autumn crops. The biggest concern for the people, as well as the government and Party committee, is water for production…”

A large portion of the land in Thuan Son and Trung Son communes is experiencing water shortages for summer-autumn crop production.

Approximately over 2000 hectares of summer-autumn rice fields in Do Luong are waiting for water to begin production.

Mr. Tran Doan Hung, Head of the Agriculture Department of Do Luong District, said: “If it doesn't rain, it's possible that over 2,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice fields cannot be planted; including 700 hectares in high-lying, drought-stricken areas where rice cannot be planted and other crops are difficult to grow. Given this situation, the district has proposed to the Irrigation Sub-Department of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to request upstream hydropower units to regulate water resources and support summer-autumn production. Hopefully, this will help the district secure some water for production. If it doesn't rain within the next week, in addition to the large area that cannot be planted, the areas already planted are also at risk of drying up and dying.”

People in the localities of Do Luong are taking advantage of the opportunity to prepare the land and sow seeds in areas with reliable water sources.

In response to the drought, the agricultural sector in Do Luong district is closely coordinating with communes to monitor the situation, strengthen efforts to clear waterways to pumping stations; inspect the irrigation canal system to avoid water wastage; advise people to take advantage of planting in areas where water can be managed; and prepare plans to switch to other crops in areas where water cannot be regulated.

Nguyen SonButHuu Nghia