Overcoming the situation of pumping stations 'hanging pots' when the rice is ripe

Rang pumping station located in Dai Dong commune (Thanh Chuong district) is currently "suspended". Photo: Van Truong

In the districtThanh ChuongCurrently, many pumping stations along the Lam River have been operating "unpredictably" for many months due to lack of water. For example, at Rang pumping station located in Dai Dong commune, Thanh Chuong district, irrigating over 550 hectares, although at many times the pumps were in a state of "hanging pots" (farmers call the trash cage of the suction pipe exposed when the water level is low), some rice fields lacked water.

Mr. Le Ngoc Hieu, Head of Rang Pumping Cluster (under Thanh Chuong Irrigation Company Limited) said: "Because the Lam River water source is both dry and the flow has changed, the operation of the 4 pumping stations in the area is very difficult, we can only wait until the upstream hydropower plant releases water to have water to pump. To cope with the water shortage, we have installed an additional field pumping station in Dong Hoi, pumping water from ponds and lakes to irrigate 60 hectares".

Workers at a pumping station in Thanh Chuong district are extending the pump pipe to get water. Photo: Van Truong.

A representative of Thanh Chuong District Irrigation Company Limited added: The unit provides irrigation water for over 3,000 hectares of rice, mainly in the pumping area. Currently, there are 8 pumping stations located along Lam River, most of which have been "hanging up" for many months due to lack of water.Lam River water is drybefore the hot season.

Faced with the above situation, to serve irrigation, the unit has installed field pumping stations in locations with dead-end river water sources and additional pumping streams. Proceed to connect additional suction pipes to the pumping stations. The unit recommends that localities organize reasonable water regulation, increase the construction of water retaining embankments to limit water loss. To solve the water shortage, we request that competent authorities request hydropower plants to release water to serve spring rice irrigation.

Go Vim pumping station, Nghia Dong commune (Tan Ky), water source is exhausted. Photo: Van Truong.

Also in the above situation, in Tan Ky and Nghia Dan districts, there are 2 pumping stations located along the Con River that are "hanging pots", namely Go Vim pumping station in Nghia Dong commune (Tan Ky) irrigating 80 hectares of rice, Nghia Khanh pumping station (Nghia Dan) irrigating 260 hectares of rice. To cope with the water shortage, the above areas have had to install additional field pumping stations to pump additional water to save the rice.

Installing field pumps in Chau Tien and Quy Chau communes to "save" rice. Photo: Van Truong.

Due to a long period of little rain, the upstream streams in Quy Chau have dried up, especially the irrigation systems of Ke Coc, Khe Nha, Khe Mo lake, Khe Ha lake in Chau Tien commune have all dried up, leading to 70 hectares of rice at risk of water shortage. In Que Phong district, some rice areas are at risk of water shortage such as Tien Phong and Dong Van communes... Faced with the above situation, Tay Bac Irrigation Company Limited has installed 2 field pumps in Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau) and one field pump in Que Phong district.

Nghe An currently has over 600 electric pumping stations, providing irrigation water for agricultural production, of which 50 pumping stations take water directly from major rivers such as Lam River, Hieu River, Con River. This year, the flow on the rivers is forecast to be low in the summer. That also means that the risk of drought in the spring rice crop in areas where electric pumping stations take water from major rivers will be very high.

Nghe An: Focus on saving rice in reservoir and downstream areas during drought

(Baonghean.vn) - In the past few days, Nghe An has had some localized "golden rains". However, the return of intense heat has caused many rice fields and crops in Tan Ky, Nghi Loc, Nam Dan, Do Luong districts... to lack water. Many places are focusing on fighting drought to save rice in the reservoir area and downstream areas.