Many streams and creeks are gradually drying up, officials and people go up the mountain to find water sources to fight drought.

In Bao Nam commune, Ky Son border district, according to the leader of the commune People's Committee, in addition to the hot days of over 40 degrees Celsius, the nearly month-long heat wave has caused the water sources of streams and creeks in the commune to gradually dry up. People in Bao Nam commune live and produce entirely on water from streams and creeks, so the lack of water not only causes crop failures, but also affects people's health.

Officials of Bao Nam Commune People's Committee inspect water sources in streams and creeks in Hin Pen village. Photo: HT

In Hin Pen village, one of the remote villages of Bao Nam commune, village chief Cut Pho Anh said that the continuous dry and sunny days have caused the water source from the stream to dry up, and people have to visit their fields and plantations every day to grasp the drought situation. "There are currently no roads leading to the production areas of Hin Pen village and neighboring villages, or they have been eroded. People have to go along the steep mountain slopes. Currently, Hin Pen village is mobilizing people to open 700m of road to the production area and clear the flow to prevent drought for crops" - Cut Pho Anh said.

Mr. Cut Pho Anh's production area is located in the middle of a lowland, about a 30-minute walk across the mountains from his house. To ensure enough water for his livestock and irrigation for 0.5 hectares of rice fields, he had to invest nearly 20 million VND to buy an additional water pipe from a stream nearly 1 km from his farm.

"I had to sell my cow to buy a water pipe. It hasn't rained for a month. Without water, my buffalo, cows, rice, and corn will die," said Cut Pho Anh.

Hin Pen village chief, Bao Nam commune, Cut Pho Anh (left) bought water pipes from streams to prevent drought for his family's production area. Photo: HT

The leader of Bao Nam Commune People's Committee said that not only the hot weather in the first months of 2023 negatively affected the lives and production of local people, but also in 2022, erratic weather developments such as severe cold spells, damaging cold, and hot weather caused crops and livestock to lose productivity and quality. In particular, the upland rice planting area only reached 89% of the plan (302 ha/340 ha). As for the rice field area, due to drought and cold rain, it only reached 42.85% of the assigned plan (3 ha/7 ha). In 2023, if drought is not prevented in time, the planting area of ​​Bao Nam Commune will not reach the plan.

Also in the situation where streams and creeks are showing signs of drying up, in Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong), in the hot days of early May, officials of the commune People's Committee, village officials and people are dredging and clearing the flow of streams and creeks to maintain water sources to ensure drought prevention for more than 200 hectares of rice, 250 hectares of corn and nearly 150 hectares of vegetables, beans of all kinds and a herd of more than 5,000 livestock.

Officials and residents of Tam Quang commune look for water sources and organize the dredging of streams and creeks to prevent drought for crops. Photo: CSCC

In Que Phong district, the heat wave at the end of April 2023 affected the most localities in Tri Le, Tien Phong, and Cam Muon communes. During the peak sunny days in early May 2023, following daily weather forecasts, these localities continued to be affected. Officials of the People's Committees of communes and villages proactively propagated and reminded people to take measures to prevent heat and drought for crops.

Mr. Vi Van Cuong - Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee said that in Tri Le Commune, Cam village was the most affected with about 16 hectares of rice affected by drought. To combat the drought, commune and village officials and people offshore cleared the streams and streams and had to rent additional pumps and contribute money to buy oil to pump water to save the rice.

Many rice fields in Cam village, Tri Le commune suffered severe drought. Photo: CSCC

According to statistics from the provincial Irrigation Department, this summer-autumn crop, Nghe An strives to achieve 424,410 tons of grain, accordingly, the whole province will plant 81,000 hectares of rice. According to the assessment, this is a crop facing many difficulties and challenges. Temperatures are generally higher, while total rainfall is lower than the average of many years; in particular, since the spring crop, water has had to be regulated to serve production and prevent drought in Thanh Chuong and Do Luong areas. Meanwhile, lakes, dams, rivers, streams and key works have low water levels. It is estimated that the whole province has over 6,500 hectares at risk of drought and water shortage.

According to information from the North Central Hydrometeorological Station, from January to the first half of April 2023, the water level on rivers in the North Central region changed slowly with a decreasing trend, the upstream was affected by hydropower regulation, the downstream rivers were affected by tides. Therefore, in Nghe An, the water flow on rivers, reservoirs, streams and creeks tended to decrease gradually.

People in Cam village get water for daily use from stored streams and creeks. Photo: CSCC

The North Central Hydrometeorological Station also forecasts that from the second half of April to May 2023, water levels on rivers in the North Central region will continue to change slowly and gradually decrease. On rivers in the North Central region from April to June 2023, the average flow in the Thanh Hoa and Nghe An river basins will continue to be 10-35% lower than the average of many years.

It is forecasted that in August 2023, heat waves will continue to occur in the North Central region, with the intensity of heat waves likely to be more severe than in the same period in 2022. Therefore, there is a possibility of impact on the environment, living conditions, infrastructure, and socio-economic activities. Extreme weather such as heavy rain, heat waves, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail can negatively affect production activities and health. People need to grasp information and take proactive and effective measures to prevent and combat it.