Ensure irrigation water for spring crop production.

(Baonghean.vn) - To ensure water for the 2017 spring crop production, the Nghe An Irrigation Department has mobilized staff to be on duty, regulate water resources appropriately, review and balance water resources, and be ready to respond to any incidents occurring in the canal systems.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province, inspected the water source at the headwaters of the Do Luong canal (Trang Son commune, Do Luong district) which irrigates 5 districts: Yen Thanh, Do Luong, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, and Hoang Mai town.

From the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, workers of the Yen Thanh Irrigation Enterprise ( thuộc Bac Irrigation Company Limited) operated the water intake system throughout the canals to supply water for agricultural production.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Kien, Director of the Enterprise, said: "We are responsible for irrigating over 10,000 hectares of rice fields. Since the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), the enterprise has divided its workforce to operate the irrigation system from the pumping areas to the gravity-fed areas and reservoirs. We are also addressing blockages caused by garbage and water hyacinth along the canals. To date, our team of workers has successfully delivered water directly to the fields, allowing farmers to focus on production."

The Northern Irrigation Company provides irrigation water for the spring crop, covering an area of ​​over 30,000 hectares in five key rice-growing districts: Yen Thanh, Do Luong, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, and Hoang Mai town.

The unit deployed workers to take turns on duty during the Tet holiday to ensure water supply for the spring crop. At the same time, they strengthened water management and infrastructure before, during, and after the Lunar New Year, regularly inspecting key facilities, operating water sources promptly, and handling any incidents.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, workers at the pumping stations in Ly, Minh, Dai, and My communes (Yen Thanh district) inspected and maintained the machines before operating the electric pumping stations.

Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province, said: In the spring of 2017, the entire province planted more than 85,000 hectares of rice. Although the rainfall in 2016 was better, it was still at a normal level. Right from the afternoon of the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), the irrigation companies in the province had arranged their personnel appropriately to be on duty and operate to ensure water supply for the spring crop.

Previously, on January 13th, the Department issued công văn (official letter) No. 76/SNN-CCTL to relevant units “regarding the operation of irrigation works to ensure irrigation for production during the Tet holiday of Dinh Dau 2017”. Specifically, it instructed them to deploy sufficient personnel to promptly operate the works, inspect and balance water resources, and be ready to respond in case of any incidents…”.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, workers at the Vung Reservoir and Dam Complex in Dong Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) cleared waterways to facilitate spring crop production.

Extreme weather patterns, specifically the early arrival of southwesterly winds and prolonged heatwaves, may still lead to water shortages at the end of the season. Given this reality, the agricultural sector requires localities and irrigation units to develop specific and detailed drought prevention plans for each region right from the beginning of the season to proactively cope with the situation (especially areas at the end of canals, semi-mountainous areas, and mountainous regions).

Local authorities and units should review and rebalance water resources to develop appropriate irrigation plans for the spring crop. Rice cultivation should be avoided in areas where irrigation is not guaranteed throughout the season, and plans should be made to convert crop structures in areas where irrigation is not assured.

Van Truong