Actively responding to drought and saltwater intrusion in dry season 2020-2021

Salinity occurs early 

According to forecasts, the La Nina phenomenon will continue to be maintained from now until the first months of 2021. During the period from January to May 2021, the rainfall in the areas is common at a yearly average and higher than the average of many years, the possibility of unseasonal rain appears in some provinces in the South Central Coast, the Central Highlands and the Mekong River Delta; The common flow in rivers and streams is 10-30 percent lower than that of many years. 

Many areas of winter-spring paddy sown outside the seasonal calendar are at risk of being affected by drought and salinity 

According to scientific units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Long An, the possibility of salt water intrusion in the dry season 2020-2021 is as follows: On the Vam Co river, saline intrusion begins to affect the water intake capacity of irrigation projects from February 2021. The largest saltwater boundary of 4g per liter is likely to appear in March, April 2021 in the area: On Vam Co Dong River and Vam Co Tay River at 100-110 kilometers, 15-20 kilometers lower than in 2020, 10-15 kilometers lower than in 2016. From May 2021, saline intrusion tends to decrease gradually. 

According to the Head of the Division of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tan Tru District - Dang Van Tay Lo, at this time, salinity has begun to appear on the Vam Co Dong River, the salinity was measured at Nhut Tao sluice on January 5, 2021. is 2.7g / l. With the above salinity, it is estimated that many areas of Winter-Spring rice (WS) 2020-2021 in the area are in danger of salinity intrusion. Facing the above situation, the district has had solutions to help people proactively prevent salinity, preserve fresh rice, and have enough water to irrigate fruit trees. Specifically, the district closes all saline prevention sluice gates along the Vam Co Dong river and assigns technical staff to regularly monitor the salinity in the bordering areas and canals for timely response solutions. In addition, the work of dredging inland canals to store water and carry fresh water in the dry season is also interested in implementing by the district. 

Understanding the harmful effects of drought and salinity, this season, Mr. Le Thanh Ut (Tan Phuoc Tay commune, Tan Tru district) proactively sows early seeding in the dry season to avoid drought and salinity. Mr. Ut said: “After 2 times affected by drought, salinity and damage, I understand its harm better than anyone. This year, after harvesting the Summer-Autumn (SA) crop, I took advantage of the land preparation and sowing early in the WS crop. As expected, by the end of December, I will harvest rice and do not worry about drought and salinity”. 

In the crop year of 2020-2021, Tan Tru district sowed over 3,000 hectares, of which about 700 hectares sowed outside the seasonal schedule recommended by the provincial agriculture sector. Currently, the salinity on the Vam Co Dong river has begun to appear and increase gradually. Therefore, the risk of these off-season sowing rice fields being dehydrated and damaged is very high. 

In Can Duoc district, salinity also appeared from October 30 in lunar calendar. Currently, all saline prevention sluices in the district have been closed to ensure water sources for production. Deputy Director of Center for Agricultural Service of Can Duoc district - Tran Anh Tuan said: “This year, salinity on Vam Co Dong river appears about half a month earlier than other years. On January 05, 2021, salinity measured at Ba Nho was 10 gram per liter, and Doi Ma was 3 gram per liter. Currently, the agricultural activities of the people mainly use water stored on canals, in-field ditches and rainwater, so when the dry season, high temperatures will increase water evaporation and increase. Water demand for plants, animals, etc. Therefore, the fresh water resources in the district are likely to be in short supply in the dry season 2020-2021, especially in 8 communes in the lower region. 

Many areas of winter-spring rice areas sown outside the seasonal calendar are at risk of being affected by drought and salinity

Proactively responding 

With the climate of 6 months of rain and 6 months of drought, people in Can Duoc have gradually adapted and have solutions to effectively convert production, ensuring income in drought and salty months. Mr. Le Hoang An, living in Long Huu Tay commune, Can Duoc district, said: “I was born and grown up in this land, I understand the harshness of drought and salinity. Normally, there will be about 6 months of dry season in Can Duoc. Before that, like many people living here, I would leave the land vacant and let the land rest. In the last 2 years, I switch to shrimp farming in the dry season because the shrimp are not affected by drought or salinity. In my opinion, this conversion has both taken advantage of productive land and brought in quite a good income in the dry season”. 

The Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Division of Can Duoc district - Nguyen Hong Chuong informed that the district allocates about 12 billion VND to dredge canals and ditches in the fields every year to increase the capacity of water storage for agricultural production. Specifically, right from the end of the drought and salinity 2019-2020, the district has reviewed and assessed the current status and effectiveness of existing irrigation works and accelerated the progress of fresh storage and salt prevention works that have been under construction, they are ensured the completion before the dry season 2020-2021. At the same time, the district focused on promoting propaganda and advocacy; regularly updating news reports on drought and salinity for timely information, raising awareness of the community and society. In addition, the district also organizes training courses, transferring science - technology on solutions to prevent and combat drought and salinity in agricultural production and people's livelihood”. 

“The district has 3 main dams and sluice gates: Doi Ma, Ben Tre and Xom Bo, the function of providing fresh water, irrigation, drainage and alum washing in the rainy season, preventing saline intrusion during the dry season. Connecting these three big culverts is a ring dike of nearly 20 kilometers long through the communes of Long Cang, Phuoc Tuy, Tan An along the Vam Co Dong river. From these 3 large sluices, there are more than 50 kilometers of inland irrigation canals and dozens of other secondary sluices forming an in-land irrigation system that supplies agricultural water for all 9 upland communes and Can Duoc town. In order to take initiative in water sources, district technicians regularly go to the area to check and announce water quality in rivers and in fields, and set up sluice closing and opening schedules. The main sluices are deployed to the communes, people know to proactively produce, prevent and combat saline intrusion into the fields in the dry season. Besides, it is recommended that people have a plan to store water in canals, canals, ponds and ditches for production "- Mr. Chuong added./. 

By Bui Tung – Translated by Duc Tam

Source: https://baolongan.vn/chu-dong-ung-pho-voi-han-xam-nhap-man-mua-kho-2020-2021-a108161.html