Nearly 3,000 hectares of rice are drying up and burning.

(Baonghean.vn) - Due to severe drought, Nghi Loc has 2,800 hectares of summer-autumn rice suffering from drought. Of these, 200 hectares of rice have died due to lack of water. These days, the agricultural sector of Nghi Loc district is directing localities to use water-suppressing measures to save this drought-stricken rice area.

The drought has been so severe that many rice fields in Nghi Loc have been “burned” dry. Even if the remaining green plants are saved, they will not be effective because the rice plants have passed their growth period.

Nghi Hung commune has nearly 100 hectares of rice that have dried up, accounting for a fairly high proportion of the current summer-autumn rice crop. Nguyen Dinh Long's family in hamlet 14, Nghi Hung commune, planted 5 sao of rice this season, of which 3 sao are dying. Long lamented: "For nearly a month, the water from the Cam River has not reached the fields once. The rice plants lack water for irrigation, so they are wilting. Even if it rains today, the surviving rice areas will not be harvested, because the rice plants are past their growth period. Right now, the family has lost 1.2 million VND in seeds and labor."

According to statistics compiled by the agricultural sector of Nghi Loc district, out of 2,800 hectares of summer-autumn rice that have been planted, 200 hectares of rice have died due to drought in the district. This number is likely to increase significantly if the hot weather continues.

Mr. Thai Doan Sy - Chairman of Nghi Van Commune People's Committee said: "Currently, 170 hectares of summer-autumn rice in four hamlets: Dong, Lang, Bac Ky La, Nam Ky La of the commune have turned white and cracked. If the weather continues to be dry for another five days, all the rice will die."

Nghi Van Commune People's Committee mobilized mechanical machines to dredge the main canal to bring water to the fields.

With the spirit of using all its capacity to save the rice, Nghi Van Commune People's Committee has implemented measures to force water to irrigate the drought-stricken fields. The Commune People's Committee allocated the budget to hire mechanical dredgers to clear the entire 4km main canal. Nghi Van Agricultural Service Cooperative operates Tung Ben pumping station 24/7 to supply water to fight drought. At the same time, the Cooperative has purchased a large capacity oil pump to reinforce Dam pumping station to drain water from Nha Le canal to irrigate rice in the two hamlets of Bac Ky La and Nam Ky La. The Commune People's Committee also directed people to build embankments to retain water. It mobilized households to "mobilize" water sources from ponds and lakes to "save the thirst" of rice.

In addition to electric pumps, many people's oil pumps are also increased on this occasion to fight drought.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district said: The district directs the work of saving rice from drought as the top priority but the water source is too little. With the spirit of watering sparingly, mainly ensuring moisture for rice to live and wait for rain, localities absolutely do not allow people to take advantage of water pumped to fight drought to sow rice for the summer-autumn crop. This can only be done when it rains.

Nhat Tuan