Nghe An: Many high-tech greenhouse models suffered heavy damage due to flooding

Taking advantage of the time when the water receded after a week of heavy flooding, Mr. Nguyen Van Son - owner of a greenhouse model in Hung Thanh commune, Hung Nguyen district hurried out to check his crops. However, before his eyes was a thick layer of mud, all the winter crops as well as high-tech varieties were completely damaged, wilting under the thick layer of soil.

The greenhouse model in Hung Thanh commune, Hung Nguyen district is located outside Ta Lam dike, so it was heavily flooded during the recent flood. Photo: QA

Mr. Son shared: "It is a greenhouse model located outsideTa Lam dike, we also predicted that we would be heavily affected by natural disasters, so before the storm No. 4 hit, the family focused on harvesting young melons. The remaining winter crops and especially more than 1,000 high-tech strawberry plants could not be harvested, so the family focused on tightly fencing and reinforcing the drainage system. However, the heavy rainfall, combined with water pouring in from upstream, caused all the crops to be submerged in water, beyond saving...".

By October 8, the water in the area outside Ta Lam dike had completely receded, and the winter crop and strawberry fields of Mr. Son's family were completely covered with mud. Not only that, the items of the greenhouse with water pump tank, irrigation system, fence, water pipes... were all completely damaged, with an estimated loss of nearly 200 million VND.

After the flood receded, the strawberry and winter crop model of Mr. Nguyen Van Son's family in Hung Thanh commune (Hung Nguyen) was covered with mud and completely damaged. Photo: QA

In Thanh Chuong district, high-tech greenhouse models are in a similar situation. Nguyen Tu Chung's family in Linh Truong hamlet, Thanh Linh commune has a 2,000m2 greenhouse with a total construction cost of 1 billion VND, of which the State supported 50%. This year's autumn-winter crop, the family planted thousands of high-tech melon trees, but the entire area was completely damaged after the recent flood.

Mr. Chung shared: "My family planted the melon crop at the end of July, expecting to harvest after 3 months. Up to now, the plants have grown and developed for more than 2 months, the fruit weight has reached 700 grams - 1 kg. However, the recent flood caused the entire plant to be waterlogged and die, beyond saving...".

The prolonged flooding has caused many plants in the greenhouse to become waterlogged and wither, unable to grow. Photo: QA

Mr. Chung said that his family had signed a wholesale contract with a number of units with a selling price of 30,000 VND/kg, if selling retail, it would fluctuate from 40,000 - 45,000 VND/kg, the expected output would be 3 - 4 tons if there were no rain or flood, however, now the melon area has rotted and cannot be harvested. The family has lost both investment capital, products have to be dumped, and reputation with purchasing units because there are no goods to import for them, estimated losses of hundreds of millions of VND.

Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Chuong district said: In the recent flood, the locality suffered heavy damage due to widespread flooding. In the district, there are 6 high-tech greenhouse models in Thanh Linh, Thanh Tien, Thanh Duong, Vo Liet, Thanh Lien and Thanh Khe communes, all of which were affected by the flood. The heavy gardens were flooded on a large scale, the trees were completely damaged, the light gardens were waterlogged, reducing productivity. Because these are models with large investment costs, the damage was also heavier than that of purely traditional agricultural models.

High-tech melon, cantaloupe, and strawberry models in greenhouses were completely damaged after the flood. Photo: QA

Not only the models in Hung Nguyen and Thanh Chuong districts but also other greenhouse models in Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc districts... could not avoid damage due to the recent floods.

Authorities also recommend that for high-tech greenhouse models, due to high construction costs, garden owners must invest in an effective drainage system to avoid widespread flooding; before the rainy season, it is necessary to proactively clear the irrigation system and drainage ditches around the model. In particular, during the rainy season, high-value crops such as melons, honeydew melons, strawberries, etc. should not be planted, but short-term vegetable crops that can be harvested early before natural disasters strike to minimize damage.