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 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 crop will be delayed, some households have rushed to plant the summer-autumn rice crop to meet 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 can only 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 crop delays, people have so far been able to produce nearly 1 hectare of land. 359 hectares are still vacant. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuong - Head of the Agricultural Extension Committee of Nghi Thuan - Nghi Loc commune said: "In accordance with the telegram of Nghi Loc district People's Committee, Nam Irrigation Company has blocked the Cam River section across the bridge of N5 road to prevent saltwater intrusion. The commune People's Committee has directed water to be pumped 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. We direct communes to monitor the output at a ratio of less than 1/1000 when pumping water before pumping water into the fields. In addition, we also recommend that farmers 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 progress of farmers' planting as well as the risk of damage due to storms at the end of the crop is very high.

Thu Hien - Hong Vinh