Over 700 hectares of spring rice in Yen Thanh will lack irrigation water.

(Baonghean.vn) - Many reservoirs and dams in the highlands of Yen Thanh district are running dry. More than 700 hectares of spring rice in Yen Thanh will lack irrigation water during the flowering stage.

According to a report from the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, by this time, most small reservoirs in the highland communes of Yen Thanh district, including Thinh Thanh, Minh Thanh, Tay Thanh, Quang Thanh, and Tien Thanh, have experienced a sharp drop in water levels, affecting irrigation water for the spring rice crop. Consequently, up to 723 hectares of spring rice in these areas will face water shortages during the flowering stage.

The Ve Vung dam in Dong Thanh commune, which irrigates 1,700 hectares of agricultural land, currently has less than half of its water capacity remaining.

Tien Thanh commune has 8 reservoirs, and the water level is currently below 50% of its capacity. The Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Huu Dai, is concerned that the entire 250 hectares of spring rice crop depends on water from these reservoirs. With water levels in these reservoirs dwindling, the commune has instructed the agricultural department to proactively conserve water by regulating water flow across individual fields, avoiding the indiscriminate release of water as before. It is estimated that approximately 45 hectares of spring rice in Tien Thanh will face water shortages during the flowering period.

Minh Thanh commune has 32 reservoirs of varying sizes, providing irrigation water for 233 hectares of spring rice crops. Currently, only 2 reservoirs retain 70% of their water capacity, while the remaining reservoirs only have 40% left. To address the water shortage, the commune is encouraging farmers to reinforce embankments and retain water; they are also arranging for water supply to one rice field every 15 days. Inspections indicate that approximately 40 hectares in areas far from water sources will experience water shortages.

The Yen Thanh District Department of Agriculture is reviewing and assessing water levels in reservoirs and dams to develop a plan for rational irrigation water regulation. Following the district's directive, localities are using reservoir and dam water to regulate irrigation by supplying water to rice fields once every 15 days. The District People's Committee has also developed a plan to pump water from irrigation canals and streams into reservoirs and dams where possible, to supply irrigation water to areas at risk of water shortage.

Xuan Hoang