Nghe An: Converting more than 2,400 hectares of ineffective rice land to growing crops

(Baonghean) -To combat drought, in the summer-autumn crop of 2017, Nghe An converted about 2,414.8 hectares of ineffective rice land to grow other crops, including about 937.3 hectares of corn and 334 hectares of vegetables and beans.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of the province (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) answered an interview with Nghe An Newspaper.

Growing corn on rice fields in Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh. Photo by Phu Huong

PV:Summer-autumn production is always a difficult season in terms of irrigation water. Can you give us some details about the current water supply situation?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:The 2017 summer-autumn crop is forecasted to be a crop produced under unusual weather conditions, with sudden and irregular storms. Up to now, the water level in the dams is relatively full and higher than in the 2016 summer-autumn crop; however, there may be localized droughts, especially in the downstream areas and highlands.

According to the Irrigation Department, the water source at the reservoirs managed by enterprises has 8 full reservoirs (same period in 2016, there were 6 reservoirs); 54 reservoirs have a capacity of over 70% of the design capacity (same period in 2016, there were 28 reservoirs); 19 reservoirs have a capacity of 50 - 70% of the design capacity (same period in 2016, there were 22 reservoirs); 8 reservoirs have a capacity of under 50% of the design capacity (same period in 2016, there were 33 reservoirs). In addition, the reservoirs managed by communes and cooperatives reached over 70% of the design capacity as of March 17, 2017.

The water level on the Ca River at the headworks is currently quite stable. Recently, there has been a lot of rain and large amounts of it, which will add a significant amount of water to the dams as well as the rivers and streams. However, many times, after just one irrigation pumping session, the water level at the Nam Dan and Nghi Quang bara can easily decrease sharply, water shortages and saltwater intrusion are very likely to occur, especially in the downstream areas and highlands. In the Southern Irrigation Area, 85% of the irrigation area of ​​the system uses pumping stations, making irrigation for downstream areas very difficult. In fact, every year there is a drought, especially in the downstream districts.

According to the assessment of the Hydrometeorological Department, the remaining months of 2017, the rainy season comes late, so the amount of rainfall is likely to be deficient at the beginning of the season. During the rainy season, local heavy rains occur frequently, storms do not follow the rules, so there are many potential risks affecting production. Therefore, in the coming time, the area that is likely to encounter many difficulties in summer-autumn crop production due to low water levels of the Lam River is the area that takes water through the Nam Dan sluice (creating a source of irrigation water for the districts of Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, and Vinh city).

Vegetable crops bring high efficiency in Nam Dan. Photo: Phu Huong

PV:Along with technical measures, crop restructuring is considered an important measure in drought prevention. How has the agricultural sector implemented crop restructuring to combat drought?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:Currently, implementing crop restructuring is one of the important measures to combat drought in addition to irrigation and drainage measures. In recent years, to ensure increased production value per unit area, the agricultural sector has encouraged farmers to convert crop structure on drought-affected rice growing areas, which cannot be irrigated throughout the season, or on ineffective rice growing areas to grow other more effective crops.

For areas with drought, water shortage and ineffective rice production, priority should be given to switching to growing other crops such as corn, peanuts, beans, sesame, etc.; at the same time, changing the crop season, not letting farmers leave the land fallow. Because areas that have had a drought at the beginning of the season, when switching to other crops, the soil must also have enough moisture to germinate, but by the time there is water, the season is over, so the conversion of crop structure must be combined with changing the season so that farmers do not leave the land fallow. At the same time, on areas of ineffective rice cultivation (low yield, low output), low investment, switching to corn or other crops will bring higher income than rice cultivation from 5 - 7 million VND/ha (the cost of growing corn is lower than that of growing rice from 2 - 4 million VND/ha, the price of corn is higher than the price of rice).

Drought in Do Luong district forced 730 hectares of rice fields to switch to corn and upland crops in the 2016 summer-autumn crop. Photo courtesy

In 2016 alone, the whole province converted 2,764.8 hectares to grow corn, peanuts, sugarcane, and various vegetables and beans, of which the area converted from 2-rice crop land to short-term crops was 2,238 hectares, and the area converted from 1-rice crop land to other short-term crops was 526.8 hectares.

PV:Could you tell us about the policies and plans of the agricultural sector in converting drought-resistant crops in this year's summer-autumn crop production?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:In the summer-autumn crop of 2017, the whole province plans to convert about 2,414.8 hectares of ineffective rice-growing land to other crops such as corn, peanuts, sugarcane, watermelon, vegetables and beans of all kinds, etc. Of which, the main area is converted to corn with an area of ​​about 937.3 hectares, to vegetables and beans of all kinds with an area of ​​about 334 hectares. Rice-growing areas that cannot be irrigated throughout the crop will be prioritized to grow other crops...; at the same time, crop conversion will be carried out, not allowing farmers to leave the land fallow.

In particular, farmers are not advised to convert to unsafe and uncertain areas. For irrigated rice areas with low efficiency (low yield), localities should develop conversion plans suitable for their localities and have policies to encourage farmers to convert to other more efficient crops.

Nghe An farmers bring mechanization to agricultural production. Photo: Archive.

PV:What are the difficulties in implementing drought-resistant crop conversion? What recommendations does the industry have for localities and people on this issue?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:Due to natural conditions in some areas, early in the season there is often drought with no water for planting, but mid- or late in the season there is often flooding, so switching to other crops may be unsafe and ineffective. In addition, due to farmers' thinking and production practices, they are reluctant to switch, even leaving areas fallow. Although rice cultivation is low in efficiency and high in risk, people still think that it is a source of food for the family, livestock and the products are also easier to consume, so it is very difficult to mobilize conversion.

Meanwhile, the market for agricultural products when converted is unstable, prices are more volatile than rice cultivation. The current infrastructure mainly serves rice production, so the conversion to other crops has not been adapted in time, production efficiency is not high; the policy system has not encouraged farmers to participate.

To convert drought-resistant crops to achieve the set goals, bring economic efficiency, safety and certainty, localities need to develop reasonable policies to encourage farmers to participate in the conversion. Organize evaluation and selection of crops suitable for their locality to conduct the conversion. At the same time, raise awareness for farmers to make the conversion to bring high economic efficiency.

PV:Thank you!

Phu Huong

(Perform)