Risk of saltwater intrusion affects summer-autumn production in Nghi Loc

(Baonghean.vn) - Not only is there a severe drought in the summer-autumn crop, Nghi Loc also faces the risk of saltwater intrusion at river mouths affecting production and life.

According to the monitoring results of the Bara Nghi Quang Management Station (Nghi Loc), the salinity level has increased sharply. Meanwhile, the upstream water level measured on June 24 on the Cam River at Bara Nghi Quang was minus 0.7; 3 times higher than last year.

Saltwater has crossed the Cam River and penetrated deep into the canals in the communes of Nghi Tien, Nghi Quang, Nghi Yen, Nghi Hung, and Nghi Thuan. According to the assessment of the functional sector, this saltwater intrusion is the highest since the beginning of March. Mr. Hoang Van Huong - Station Chief of Ba Ra Nghi Quang - Nghi Loc station assessed: "The cause of this situation is due to the prolonged drought, the water level of Lam River is low, so the saltwater is pushed up".

According to Mr. Nguyen Van My, in charge of irrigation in Nghi Hoa commune, the fresh water level of Cam River at Nghi Hoa pumping station is very low.

Currently, fearing the delay in the harvest season, some households have rushed to plant the summer-autumn rice crop to keep up with the schedule and avoid storms at harvest time. However, because the freshwater in the rivers has dried up, saltwater has encroached deep into the fields, so people have only been able to produce a small area.

Nghi Thuan Commune is one of the localities with production land areas affected by saltwater intrusion. However, due to fear of the crop being delayed, up to now, people have been able to produce nearly 1ha of land. The remaining 359ha are still vacant. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuong - Head of the Agricultural Extension Department of Nghi Thuan Commune - Nghi Loc said: "Implementing the telegram of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, Nam Irrigation Company has blocked the Cam River section across the bridge of Road N5 to prevent saltwater intrusion. The Commune People's Committee has directed the pumping of water to the fields. The District People's Committee has directed the commune's agricultural extension and agricultural officers to regularly monitor to have timely treatment plans."

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: "We recommend that farmers regularly monitor to get information about salinity. Instruct communes when pumping water, they need to monitor the output at a ratio of less than 1/1000 before pumping water into the fields. Besides, we also recommend that people should choose short-term rice varieties to compete with the season, ensuring crop productivity and output."

The Cam River branch near the Le Dynasty Canal is dry.

Up to now, the 2016 summer-autumn rice crop in the district has been planted 15 days later than last year, with the planted area of ​​about 1,200 hectares, reaching 26% of the total production area. If the saltwater intrusion continues in the coming days, it will slow down the farmers' planting progress as well as the risk of damage due to storms at the end of the crop is very high.

Thu Hien - Hong Vinh