Nghe An strives to cope with drought and severe heat

Many areas have not been planted due to drought.

Reporter: Sir, what difficulties is Nghe An's agricultural production facing in the current prolonged, severe heat wave?

Mr. Nguyen Van Lap:Up to now, in addition to rice, which has been planted in more than half of the area, other crops such as corn, peanuts, sesame, and vegetables have only been planted in a small part compared to the summer-autumn production plan.

Hung Nguyen district is a locality that often suffers from drought. Photo: Thu Huyen

Currently, it is the peak period for irrigation water supply for summer-autumn crop production to serve planting and watering. However, the severe hot weather that has lasted since the beginning of June has caused negative impacts. In the whole province, the hot weather combined with strong southwest winds has caused drought in many crops. Many areas are unable to produce due to drought and lack of water.

In localities such as Yen Thanh, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Do Luong, Nghia Dan, Con Cuong, some rice fields that have been planted are suffering from drought, and some areas due to drought and lack of water have not been able to plant.

The total area of ​​rice that has been planted and is affected by drought is 4,460 hectares, including: Yen Thanh 500 hectares, Nghi Loc 1,660 hectares, Hung Nguyen 800 hectares, Do Luong 1,500 hectares. The total area that cannot be planted due to drought is 2,433 hectares, including: Yen Thanh 500 hectares, Nghi Loc 1,500 hectares, Hung Nguyen 160 hectares, Do Luong 243 hectares and Dien Chau 30 hectares.

PV: In such hot weather, how is the irrigation system's ability to meet irrigation needs in the province at present, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Lap:According to the forecast of the North Central Hydrometeorological Station, hot weather will continue in Nghe An with the highest temperature commonly ranging from 38 - 40 degrees Celsius.^oC, place above 40^oC. Meanwhile, currently, the water source at the irrigation reservoirs managed by enterprises is only 2 full, the rest only reaches 50 - 70% of the design capacity; the reservoirs managed by communes and cooperatives have only about 30 - 55% of the remaining water. While the demand for irrigation water is currently very high, the water source is likely to be difficult to meet the irrigation requirements.

Some lemon growing areas in Hung Yen Nam and Hung Nguyen were burnt and dried. Photo: Thu Huyen

Strengthening drought prevention solutions

PV: So to ensure production plans and minimize damage caused by drought in the current difficult conditions, what solutions and recommendations has the agricultural sector had for localities and farmers?

Mr. Nguyen Van Lap:To limit the damage caused by the heat, protect the planted crop areas as well as close the planned area, it is recommended that the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns coordinate with irrigation companies, focus on dredging canals, ditches, embankments, and plot embankments, strictly manage water resources, operate works reasonably, and regulate water in each stage to suit the requirements of the crops.

At the same time, prepare equipment, oil pumps, and field pumps to utilize all water sources for irrigation for production, prioritizing irrigation water for planted areas. Have a plan to change the crop season and crop structure in areas with potential water shortages.

Many rice fields in Do Luong cannot be planted due to lack of water. Photo: Phu Huong

For rice, in areas that have been planted, based on the physiological characteristics and water needs of rice at each growth stage, farmers are instructed to apply water-saving irrigation techniques according to "Nong - Lo - Phoi", not letting rice dry out due to lack of water. The summer-autumn crop is now only 1 week away, ending on June 20. Therefore, areas that have not yet planted must urgently take advantage of the harvested water to focus on timely planting, absolutely not planting on areas where irrigation water is not guaranteed.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Lap inspected the model of growing melons in greenhouses using Israeli technology in Hoi Son, Anh Son. Photo: Thu Huyen

With nearly 2,500 hectares that cannot be planted due to lack of water, it is necessary to divide them into specific areas to have suitable plans: In the flooded summer-autumn area, the areas at the end of the canal, the corners, the clay soil... are currently dry but if it rains, they will be flooded, and cannot be converted to other crops. It is necessary to prepare a source of old rice seedlings to plant immediately after the rain, or use extremely short-lived varieties for sowing.

In higher elevation areas, switch to seasonal rice production. If the seedlings are too old, destroy them and use varieties with a growth period of about 100 days for sowing. In areas where there is not enough water for dams, do not plant rice but switch to other crops such as biomass corn and beans to ensure that the entire area is planted and production is safe.

Note that localities need to proactively contact companies to prepare short-term rice varieties as a reserve.

Lack of irrigation water has caused many rice fields in Nghi Phuong and Nghi Loc to wither. Photo: Thu Huyen

PV: What solutions are needed for other crops, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Lap:Currently, the area of ​​corn planted has only reached less than 30% of the plan, so in places with enough moisture such as in the beach area, it is necessary to focus on sowing so that when the corn comes up and it rains, it will grow. If the soil is not moist enough, it will have to wait because it is completely dependent on the rain. However, it is necessary to prepare the conditions of soil, seeds, fertilizers and materials so that when it rains and the season is still available, it will be urgent to plant; if there is no season, it is necessary to switch from summer corn to autumn corn to ensure the area according to the plan. In addition, it is necessary to choose short-term varieties, grow corn as feed for cows and use varieties that are resistant to fall armyworms or rotate to other crops with shorter growing periods such as beans.

Provincial leaders and the Department of Agriculture inspected the drought situation for fruit trees to promptly come up with rescue solutions. Photo: Phu Huong

For industrial and fruit tree areas, farmers need to cover the roots to retain moisture, drill wells in places with underground water sources, develop a small pump network or build small reservoirs for irrigation. As for tea trees, in addition to the above measures, during the drought, tea should not be picked by machine and tea picking should be stopped when the drought lasts for a long time, accepting the loss of the harvest to help tea better withstand the current severe drought situation.

PV: Thank you!

Phu Huong (performed)