Urgently restore production after natural disasters

Farmers in Dien Bien district switch to new crops to restore production on areas damaged by floods. *Photo: Lan Phuong*

During the prolonged flood, Nam He 1 village, He Muong commune (Dien Bien district) had 12 hectares of agricultural land of more than 50 households in the village damaged. Of these, 6 households lost everything because the stream changed its course and encroached on the cultivated area. For the areas that can still be repaired, people are waiting for the water to recede to re-level the land to continue farming.

Mr. Lo Van Doi, a resident of Nam He 1 village, said: My family has 3,000 square meters of rice fields that were completely lost. Because the fields are all located along the Nam He stream, not only were the rice completely damaged, but the fields almost became a streambed, making it impossible to cultivate anymore.

According to Mr. Lo Van Thoan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of He Muong Commune: Since the beginning of the year, and especially the prolonged heavy rains in early August, the commune has suffered damage to nearly 30 hectares of agricultural land. The commune mobilized people to focus on overcoming the damage by clearing rocks and soil from the fields, re-erecting fallen crops, caring for and fertilizing, restoring areas that can still be saved, and arranging to replant crops that are still within the cropping season. For areas that have been completely lost, the commune will coordinate with the district authorities to verify the damage, summarize and propose support in accordance with regulations.

According to statistics, from the beginning of the year until now, Dien Bien district has been affected by 3 natural disasters with heavy rains and storms, causing damage to housing and agricultural production estimated at 1.2 billion VND; damage to 92.97 hectares of rice; 60.55 hectares of corn and various vegetables; 41 livestock and poultry died; 240m of canals and irrigation works were eroded, washed away, damaged, many domestic water works were washed away, broken, blocked and eroded. Immediately after the natural disaster, the District Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue directed agencies, units, and Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of communes to overcome the consequences. Urged and guided the People's Committees of communes to complete the dossiers requesting support for damage caused by natural disasters according to regulations. Up to now, the district has appraised and approved 3 plans to support natural disasters occurring in the communes: Thanh Yen, Muong Pon.

In Nam Po district, the flood in late August caused direct damage to the locality of about 1.2 billion VND. The most serious damage was in 2 communes: Na Co Sa and Cha To. Specifically: Over 10 hectares of rice were damaged (of which about 4 hectares were irreparably eroded, the remaining damage was from 30 - 70%); 2,000m2 ^of aquatic products, about 6,000m2 ^{of crops} were severely damaged. The flood also killed 1 person; 11 houses were damaged, of which 3 households had to be urgently relocated; 2 irrigation works and a number of traffic works, medical stations, and schools were affected.

Mr. Hang Nhe Ly, Vice Chairman of Nam Po District People's Committee, said: Immediately after the damage, the district directed functional forces to coordinate with local authorities to mobilize forces to promptly support people; review the damage to complete the records, develop short-term and long-term recovery plans. For 3 houses that were completely eroded, the forces helped move them to temporary, safe housing, and the district arranged a support fund of 30 million VND/household. The local authorities are searching for land and actively encouraging them to move their housing. Implementing the district's direction, currently the authorities of communes with agricultural damage have allocated reserve budgets to support people to reproduce, buy short-term crop varieties (peanuts, soybeans, etc.) to replace damaged production areas.

After prolonged floods caused damage to agricultural production in the province, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directed and coordinated with districts to mobilize and guide people to urgently restore the damaged rice and crop areas that could be restored; urgently harvest the damaged crop areas that have reached the harvest period to minimize damage. For agricultural production areas that are completely damaged and cannot be restored, switch to growing other crops suitable for the season to ensure food and food supply to stabilize people's lives and production. Direct units managing irrigation works to mobilize human resources, dredge mud and soil, reinstall temporary sluices, and clear the flow to ensure irrigation water. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requested the People's Committees of districts to direct specialized departments and offices to coordinate with the People's Committees of communes, wards and towns to urgently complete procedures to support households suffering losses in crop and livestock farming due to floods according to current regulations.

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