Large areas of farmland in Tan Chau are left fallow.
For many years, households in Son Dau hamlet, Tan Chau commune (Nghe An province) have had to abandon nearly 1 hectare of rice fields due to the irrigation system being affected during the construction of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway.
Residents of Son Dau hamlet, Tan Chau commune, have reported that farmland has been left fallow since the construction of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway and the access road system passing through the area, due to changes in the irrigation system. Water supply and drainage are no longer guaranteed, making it impossible to sustain agricultural production.
Previously, the nearly 1-hectare area of rice fields cultivated by the villagers provided a stable source of income, yielding two harvests per year. However, since the transportation infrastructure project was implemented, the irrigation and drainage canal system has been disrupted, and some canals have even been buried during construction. As a result, the fields are now experiencing alternating periods of drought and flooding.
Ms. Cao Thi Niem previously cultivated over one sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of rice paddies. However, after the construction project began, rice farming became unprofitable. “Some seasons, after plowing and planting, the rice dies because of the acidic water from the road construction site. My family tried to cultivate two crops but failed, so we had to leave the land fallow. Now the fields are overgrown with weeds,” Ms. Niem shared.
Not only Mrs. Niem's family, but many other households are in a similar situation. Mr. Dang Trong Long said that they have tried to restore production but without success. “Seeing the rice die, we went to find seedlings to replant. But they still died. Some families bought seedlings to replant, but that didn't work either. After the second year, we gave up and haven't been able to do it since. We hope that the authorities will create conditions for us to resume production and earn an income,” Mr. Long said.
The entire affected land area, nearly 1 hectare, belongs to 6 households who were allocated land under Decree 64. The prolonged cessation of cultivation has seriously affected their livelihoods and income, especially since the majority of the people still depend on agriculture.
Mr. Dang Trong Phong, head of Son Dau hamlet, said that residents had repeatedly petitioned since the area was still part of the old administrative unit. After the commune merger, residents continued to submit petitions to the government, requesting a prompt and definitive solution to the problem.
“The villagers suggested that if it’s possible to cultivate the land, an irrigation system should be invested in; if not, they proposed reclaiming the land to provide compensation and support. Some households have insignificant plots, while others have about 3-4 acres. Their lives mainly depend on farming, and now they can’t cultivate it, what can they do?” Mr. Phong said.
According to Mr. Ngo Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the Tan Chau Commune People's Committee, the locality is considering a solution: "The Commune People's Committee has surveyed the area. It is expected that this area will be included in the plan to expand the existing cemetery next to it. In the near future, the commune will hold a village meeting to inform the people about the plan."
After four years of being uncultivable, the rice paddy land in Son Dau hamlet remains abandoned, resulting in a waste of agricultural land and affecting the livelihoods of the local people.
The situation in Son Dau hamlet demonstrates the long-term impact of transportation infrastructure development on agricultural production, if there are no comprehensive solutions regarding irrigation and land reuse planning. Affected households request that the Tan Chau commune government and relevant authorities promptly develop specific plans to ensure the legitimate rights of the people.
