Upgrading and constructing new electric pumping stations to ensure irrigation water for summer-autumn rice crops.

The newly constructed pumping station in Ly Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, is operating efficiently. Photo: Van Truong

Faced with the reality of a dilapidated and inefficient pumping system, Yen Thanh district has focused on investing in the construction of electric pumping stations in recent years.

A worker at the electric pumping station in Ly Thanh commune, district.Yen ThanhAccording to a representative from the Yen Thanh Irrigation Enterprise: The electric pumping station system in Ly Thanh commune, built in 1980, has been severely degraded for a long time. Before starting the pump, it needs to be "dried" for 2-3 hours. Sometimes, the pump breaks down while in operation and has to be stopped for repairs, failing to provide timely irrigation water.

Since the beginning of 2022, the Ly Thanh pumping station has been completely renovated by the government, including the intake tank, discharge tank, pumps, and operating building. Notably, the pumps are imported with European technology, are submersible, and do not require priming. They are equipped with an automatic sensor system; when the river water level is low, the pumps automatically shut off the power. Thanks to this new construction, the Ly Thanh electric pumping station has been able to pump water and irrigate hundreds of hectares of rice fields during the dry season.

The newly constructed electric pumping station in Bac Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) has been put into operation to irrigate rice crops for the summer-autumn season. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Le Van Hong, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Yen Thanh district, added: From the beginning of 2022 until now, by integrating funding from various programs and projects, Yen Thanh district has upgraded and built 12 new irrigation systems.electric pumping stationon the Do Luong canal system and the pumping system.

The electric pumping station in Tang Thanh commune has been newly built and is modern. Photo: Van Truong

Thanks to this, irrigation water has been proactively supplied for the summer-autumn crop on over 4,000 hectares concentrated in the communes of Dai Thanh, Ly Thanh, Trung Thanh, Nam Thanh, Tang Thanh, Bac Thanh, etc. Farmers in the communes with newly built electric pumping systems no longer have to worry because water is regulated promptly to the end of the canals, saving them time and money on temporary diesel pumps.

In the coming period, Yen Thanh district will focus on completing the reinforcement of the canal system, upgrading and replacing the remaining old pumping stations to ensure water for rice irrigation.

Over the past two years, Do Luong district has seen significant investment in new pumping stations. Currently, two new electric pumping stations, Van Trang 1 and Van Trang 2, in Van Son commune have been completed. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Ban, a manager at the Do Luong Irrigation Enterprise, stated: "Previously, these two pumping stations were old and outdated, using vertical shaft pumps. Now, they have been replaced with submersible pumps, and three pumping units and an operating building have been rebuilt… The current capacity of both stations is over 20,000 m³."³/h ensures irrigation for 1,700 hectares of rice.

The Van Trang 1 electric pumping station in Van Son commune (Do Luong district) has been upgraded and is operating efficiently. Photo: Van Truong

In addition, the Khuon River system (for water source pumping) has now been invested in with 18 new pumping stations, reaching a capacity of 800 m³.³Centralized pumping stations are located in the communes of Yen Son, Thai Son, Quang Son, Thuong Son, etc.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thuan, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Do Luong District, added: "For a long time, the electric pumping station system in Do Luong District has been dilapidated, operating inefficiently and wasting a lot of electricity. From 2021 to the present, with funding from the State and various projects, Do Luong District has invested in 20 electric pumping stations, which now provide stable irrigation for over 4,500 hectares of rice."

According to a report by the Nghe An Irrigation Department, from 2020 to the present, the entire province has invested in the construction and upgrading of over 110 electric pumping stations worth over 600 billion VND. The investment capital comes from the State and the JICA (Japan) project, and is managed by irrigation units and local authorities. The most heavily invested electric pumping stations are mainly located along the Dao Ba Ra canal system in Do Luong, Yen Thanh, and Dien Chau districts.

In the long term, localities in Nghe An are continuing to attract investment and plan to rebuild the remaining old pumping stations in a synchronized manner, bringing efficiency to agricultural irrigation.

Van Truong