Heat wave and saltwater intrusion 'threaten' 700 hectares of summer-autumn rice in Nghi Loc
(Baonghean.vn) - By June 15, about 700 hectares out of a total of 5,100 hectares of summer-autumn rice in Nghi Loc district were threatened by hot weather, lack of irrigation water, and saltwater intrusion.
 |
| Hot weather and lack of irrigation water have caused more than 100 hectares of summer-autumn rice in Nghi Thuan commune to dry and crack. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
Nghi Thuan Commune (Nghi Loc) is the locality at the end of the irrigation water source, so it is most affected by this heat wave. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuong, an agricultural officer of the commune, said: In this summer-autumn crop, the commune planted 310 hectares of rice. However, due to the heat and lack of irrigation water, almost the entire area has been affected, of which about 100 hectares of rice land have dried up and cracked; if the sun lasts for another 5-7 days, it will be very difficult to save the rice because the seedlings will die completely.
Not only Nghi Thuan but also other communes at the end of the Cam River system such as Nghi Dien, Nghi Hoa, Nghi Hung, Quan Hanh town... due to the hot weather, rice is seriously lacking irrigation water.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang - Head of the District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shared: This summer-autumn crop, Nghi Loc planted 5,100 hectares out of the planned 7,000 hectares (the remaining area is for late rice). Compared to previous years, this year the district planted seeds earlier so tea 1 and tea 2 are growing well. However, due to the hot weather, 700 hectares have been affected by drought and over 200 hectares have been cracked and dried, with a very high risk of damage and total loss.
 |
| Due to lack of fresh water, the pumping station and canal systems were all disabled. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
Learning more, we learned that the work of preventing drought and saving rice in Nghi Loc is difficult not only because of the lack of irrigation water but also because there are areas with water but cannot irrigate. The reason is that Nghi Loc is located at the end of the Southern irrigation system, so the amount of fresh water from upstream is almost non-existent, so 65 irrigation pumping stations along the Gai and Cam rivers are disabled.
Not only that, the Cam River has been deeply eroded by salt water, making it impossible to irrigate. According to the monitoring results of the Nam Irrigation Company, the Cam River's water source has been eroded by salt water 12 km up to Phuong Tich Bridge (Nghi Phuong Commune), so the communes below cannot organize irrigation pumping.
 |
| A pumping station near N5 bridge in Nghi Thuan commune cannot pump for irrigation due to low water levels and saltwater intrusion. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
In fact, in Nghi Thuan commune, the commune has 5 large capacity pumping stations, but 3 stations have been suspended due to lack of water, and 2 pumping stations can only be pumped to the fields when it is certain that fresh water is coming.
To save the summer-autumn rice crop, Nghi Loc district directed communes in the dam area such as Nghi Lam, Nghi Van, Nghi Kieu... to irrigate economically; Nghi Yen, Nghi Hung, Nghi Dong communes to save the remaining water from dams, dredge mud and clear the flow of Gai River to irrigate and keep the rice moist. In addition, the district directed Nghi Yen, Nghi Tien, Nghi Thiet communes... to temporarily stop summer-autumn rice production if there is a water shortage; and to build a berm at the culvert across N5 road flowing through hamlet 11, Nghi Thuan commune to prevent saltwater from flowing back up.
 |
| A pump in Nghi Thuan is in an "unstable" state because only when the monitoring results show that the fresh water ratio is guaranteed will it dare to pump to the field. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
In addition to the communes in the lower areas, the communes in the highlands such as Nghi Van, Nghi Lam and Nghi Kieu are also struggling to endure the drought. Mr. Tran Van Sao - Chairman of Nghi Van Commune People's Committee said: Nghi Van as well as the communes in the dam area are struggling to endure the drought. This crop, the commune directed people to sow 510 hectares of summer-autumn rice, so the commune can save irrigation water.
Currently, the water level of the dams in the area has decreased and the rice fields of the commune can withstand another 10 days. If the water level is too high, we will have to use mobile pumps to irrigate...
 |
| The Cam River section flowing through Nghi Thuan commune, due to the sharp decrease in fresh water and saltwater intrusion, although not yet exhausted, cannot be pumped to irrigate crops. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee said: The plan to build a dam to prevent salt water at the culvert across N5 road, Nghi Thuan commune is the most optimal, the more delayed the salt water will be.
 |
| A temporary cofferdam blocks saltwater at the culvert across bridge N5, hamlet 11, Nghi Thuan commune. Despite the local people's objections, this is the most urgent and optimal solution. Photo: Nguyen Hai |
In case the heat continues for a long time, the rice crop will be damaged, so we have to accept it. At that time, the district will calculate and allocate budget to support people to plant other crops when it rains. In the long term, Nghi Loc hopes that the province will speed up the project to build a new Nam Dan sluice to put into operation to supply fresh water to Gai River and Cam River, through which the irrigation pumping system will be effective for rice plants and will basically overcome the phenomenon of saltwater intrusion that occurs every year during drought.
