Promoting the nationwide movement for irrigation work.

Nghe An province has two major irrigation systems: the Northern Irrigation System and the Southern Irrigation System, along with 1,061 reservoirs, 423 water diversion dams, and 701 electric pumping stations. Annually, these systems ensure irrigation for over 250,000 hectares of crops, providing water for industry, socio-economic development, and domestic use throughout the province. However, due to annual flooding and droughts, the irrigation systems deteriorate and become damaged, thus hindering the implementation of irrigation programs.Mobilizing forces for irrigation work.It plays a very important role.

Irrigation canal in Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau district). Photo: Tran Chau

To effectively implement Resolution 02-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee, and to promptly address the consequences of drought and floods, proactively prevent and control floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion to ensure irrigation and drainage for production in 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province organized a campaign to mobilize the entire population to participate in irrigation, transportation, and new rural development projects, and to strengthen efforts to prevent and control droughts, saltwater intrusion, floods, and urban flooding from October 16th to December 31st, 2021, throughout the province.

Mobilizing forces to carry out irrigation work in the fields of Yen Thanh district. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Truong Thanh, Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department, stated: This year's irrigation campaign must meet the following basic requirements: Overcoming the consequences of drought and storms to ensure irrigation and drainage for the 2021 winter crop and 2022 production. Ensuring maximum water supply capacity of irrigation facilities, including reservoirs, pumping stations, and water intake gates, for the production of food crops, industrial crops, fruit trees, cash crops, and aquaculture. Ensuring the rapid and timely delivery of irrigation and drainage water, saving water and production costs. Enhancing the capacity of irrigation works to prevent and mitigate natural disasters, droughts, and floods, ensuring the safety of the structures and minimizing damage caused by natural disasters and climate change. Continuing to reinforce and modernize the internal irrigation canal system. In addition, units and localities need to monitor the developments of the Covid-19 pandemic to take measures that both ensure pandemic control and implement the campaign effectively and practically.

Ensure the unobstructed flow of drainage channels in aquaculture areas, including supply and drainage canals. Repair key infrastructure, irrigation works and systems, clean water systems, river dikes, sea dikes, and embankment structures after the rainy season and floods.

Repair and upgrade rural and village roads according to the plan. Clear land and vegetation to ensure unobstructed access, in line with the new rural development criteria for transportation. For urban areas, repair and dredge drainage canals to ensure unobstructed water flow and minimize flooding during heavy rains.

Repairing a damaged reservoir spillway in Phuc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district). Photo: Van Truong

In addition, the campaign also develops small-scale irrigation systems for dryland crops, such as: digging and constructing small reservoirs, tanks, and wells; developing a network of small pumps; and using advanced, water-saving irrigation methods. It maximizes the advantages of the province's reservoir and dam system to replicate irrigation models for new varieties of citrus fruits, passion fruit, pomelo, sugarcane, tea, and fodder crops. Depending on the extent of damage, the current state of the structures, and the actual needs for irrigation, drainage, water supply, and environmental sanitation, localities and units select projects and determine the content, scale, and volume to be implemented in this campaign.

In Yen Thanh District, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions, three communes – Tang Thanh, Tan Thanh, and Lang Thanh – are carrying out dredging of the irrigation canal system and repairing field embankments. Mr. Le Van Hong, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Yen Thanh District, said: After the storms, many irrigation systems were damaged, and canals were silted up. The irrigation campaign in Yen Thanh District is determined to complete each section thoroughly and is divided into three phases. Phase I involves dredging canals and improving the infrastructure of bridges and culverts in the fields; Phase II involves building field embankments, main embankments, and leveling the fields; and Phase III involves cleaning the fields, dredging canals, and clearing vegetation.

Residents of Tang Thanh, Tan Thanh, and Lang Thanh communes are carrying out dredging of the irrigation canal system and repairing field embankments. Photo: Ho Cac

To make October 16th a true festival for the people of the province, Nghe An focused on propaganda and mobilization efforts, along with policies to support and reward leading units; it also implemented policies to mobilize capital in a manner appropriate to the people's capabilities, ensuring transparency and democracy. In addition to the large number of people from all walks of life, many localities mobilized organizations such as farmers' associations, youth union members, and the armed forces…