(VOVWORLD) - The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang has protected its winter-spring crops from saltwater intrusion and drought by taking preventive measures. Since the end of last year, much investment has been made in constructing works and increase the storage of fresh water. Authorities have advised farmers to grow rice as instructed by the agricultural sector to mitigate the impacts of saltwater intrusion and drought in this year’s dry season.
 Soc Trang takes preventive measures to protect its winter-spring crops from saltwater intrusion and drought. (Photo: VOV) |
Soc Trang’s agricultural sector has tracked daily changes in weather and water resources in the upper Mekong River and the Mekong Delta.
It has managed the local irrigation and canal system, and hastened completion of drought prevention and saltwater intrusion works, in particular building an inter-district irrigation system of dredged canals in Thanh Trii, My Tu, Chau Thanh, and Nga Nam town to store fresh water.
A new sewer was constructed in Ngan Ro district and a canal was dredged in Tran De district. Essential infrastructure projects were put into operation in concentrated agricultural production areas.
Huynh Ngoc Nha, Director of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department, said, “We have taken the initiative to repair the drainage system, upgrade dykes, and improve water regulation in the drainage system and dykes to prevent saltwater intrusion and store more fresh water. We have increased the dredging of irrigation canals in rice fields to ensure water for production. Farmers have also been told the best times for farming.”
Farmers in Chau Thanh district have planted 14,000 hectares of rice for the winter-spring crop, mostly fast-growing, drought-resistant rice varieties.
Thai Thanh Dien, a farmer in Giong Chua A hamlet in Chau Thanh district, said, “This year’s impacts of saltwater intrusion will likely be less severe than last year, thanks to the closed dyke system around the commune and the district's loudspeaker communications. The district has invested in a station to monitor saltwater intrusion and plan appropriate water intake. Now the rice is growing well.”
 Soc Trang has a bumper rice harvest (Photo: VOV) |
Nguyen Van Han, Deputy Head of Chau Thanh’s Agriculture and Rural Development Division, said the district administration has paid much attention to teaching local farmers how to respond to saltwater intrusion.
“We recommend that farmers take the initiative in getting water in to limit the damage. This year we’ll focus on dredging canals and irrigation works to create more fresh water sources for production,” said Han.
He added, “We will conduct regular repair of sluice gates and organize training courses for farmers. Our agriculturalists will make regular field trips to monitor insect pests and weather changes and give farmers prompt advice.”
A proactive response to natural disasters has helped Soc Trang get high yields from the early winter-spring rice crop. The agriculture sector is taking further drastic steps to minimize the impact of saltwater on the remaining winter-spring rice crop.