Quynh Luu: Upgrading shrimp ponds before the rainy and stormy season.

(Baonghean) - Quynh Luu is a locality with a fairly large shrimp farming area of ​​over 1,320 hectares. To ensure the safety of shrimp ponds during this year's rainy and stormy season, and to reassure people about production, Quynh Luu is currently actively implementing many effective measures to help shrimp farmers protect their assets.

Harvesting shrimp for the second crop in Quynh Luu.

Mr. Tran Van Thuong's family, residing in Hamlet 14, Quynh Thanh Commune (Quynh Luu District), owns 2.8 hectares of brackish water shrimp ponds, yielding over 20 tons of shrimp annually, worth more than 2.5 billion VND. However, because his ponds are located close to the Mai Giang River, they are heavily affected by floods during the rainy season. Therefore, Mr. Thuong proactively prepared for this year's rainy season and storms. He mobilized family members to repair damaged and deteriorated sections of the embankment; dug trenches, installed stakes along the banks, and strung nets around the ponds to protect the shrimp from flooding. In addition, he prepared contingency plans and medications for preventing and treating common shrimp diseases during the rainy season and storms. Mr. Thuong said: "The ponds and dams of households often deteriorate significantly after one harvest season or one crop and suffer from erosion. By this time, about 80 to 90% of the ponds and dams of my family and other villagers here have been repaired."

Quynh Thanh commune, Quynh Luu district, currently has over 49 hectares of shrimp farms, with 128 households involved. Currently, farmers have finished harvesting the second shrimp crop and are preparing for the third. Given the unpredictable weather and the possibility of storms, the commune is actively raising awareness among farmers about protecting their property and proactively developing plans to cope with storms and floods, especially in areas at risk of flooding. The commune is also planning repairs for vulnerable or eroded sections of dikes. In addition, it is mobilizing the people to dredge and clear drainage canals and ditches. The commune also advises farmers to minimize the area for the third shrimp crop to reduce losses caused by storms and floods. Mr. Ho Van Phuc, an agricultural official in Quynh Thanh commune, Quynh Luu district, said: "The People's Committee of the commune has directed the shrimp farming service cooperative to repair the sluices with a system for raising and opening the gates to drain water promptly during the rainy and stormy season."

Currently, An Hoa commune, Quynh Luu district, is also implementing many proactive measures to best protect shrimp ponds. The local government has developed a plan to guide shrimp farmers during the rainy and stormy season to monitor weather developments and focus on supplementing vitamins and minerals in appropriate amounts to increase shrimp resistance when the weather changes; accelerate the process of reinforcing and repairing ponds to ensure their stability; and remind people to regularly check the water environment before and after rain to take timely action, avoiding sudden decreases in salinity and fluctuations in pH levels in the ponds. Mr. Le Van Quyet – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Hoa commune, said: “The People's Committee of the commune has focused on directing the Flood and Storm Control Command and households to reinforce and rebuild key reservoirs, embankments, and dikes to ensure the safety of aquaculture.”

With these proactive and positive measures, it is hoped that shrimp farmers in Quynh Luu district will minimize losses caused by storms and heavy rains.

Text and photos:Red Face