Although March and April 2025 are forecasted to be the peak of the dry season, since the beginning of February 2025, salinity intrusion has been quite severe in the province. Salinity tends to increase rapidly due to the influence of high tides and rising sea levels.
In some low-lying areas, when the tide rises, seawater overflows the dike, causing flooding and saltwater intrusion into the fields, affecting the 2024-2025 winter-spring rice crop of people in Vinh Hoa Hiep commune (Chau Thanh).
According to the People's Committee of Vinh Hoa Hiep commune, the whole commune has 981 hectares of winter-spring rice area for 2024-2025, of which an estimated 22.39 hectares of rice in Vinh Thanh hamlet were damaged by 5-30% due to the impact of high tides and saltwater intrusion. Currently, people have harvested 90% of the affected rice area, with a yield of about 5.5 tons/ha. The remaining area is in the ripening stage.
Mr. Pham Van Menh, residing in Hoa Thuan hamlet, Mong Tho A commune (Chau Thanh), checks his family's rice field in Vinh Hoa Hiep commune (Chau Thanh) which has burnt leaves and wrinkled grains due to salinity.
Acting Chairman of Vinh Hoa Commune People's Committee Hiep Danh Phuong said: "After receiving information from the people about the salinity intrusion situation, the Commune People's Committee sent agricultural staff to check the salinity in the water supply canals, the salinity in the fields, conduct statistics on the affected rice area, and guide people on measures to wash away the salinity. At the same time, the Commune People's Committee informed the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development about the drought and salinity situation affecting production, and proposed instructions on how to overcome and limit salinity intrusion."
On February 18, the Department of Irrigation of Kien Giang province coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Chau Thanh district to go to the area to check the actual salinity measured in the saline area during the low tide. Specifically, in Vinh Hoa Hiep commune, at Ta Nien sluice it was 2‰, at Vinh Hoa Hiep commune ferry wharf it was 2‰, at Xeo Coi sluice inside the sluice it was 2.5‰, outside the sluice it was 3.1‰. In Vinh Hoa Phu commune, at Ba Lich sluice 2‰, Vinh Hoa Phu commune ferry wharf it was 2‰, at Dap Da sluice inside the sluice it was 0.8‰, outside the sluice it was 1.5‰.
The district’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development determined that the cause of the rice crop damage was due to high tides, saltwater overflowing into low-lying areas and household sewers entering the fields, combined with alum poisoning. In addition, inside the rice fields of the affected people, saltwater from previous years remained in the soil, causing the rice plants to become saline.
Staff of the economic and technical team of Vinh Hoa Hiep commune (Chau Thanh) check the salinity in the fields.
Mr. Pham Van Menh, residing in Hoa Thuan hamlet, Mong Tho A commune (Chau Thanh) rented 13 hectares of land to produce rice in Vinh Thanh hamlet, Vinh Hoa Hiep commune. According to Mr. Menh's field, the rice was in the ripening stage, but due to salinity, the leaves were burnt and the grains were stale.
Mr. Menh said: “During the high tide in early February 2025, saltwater intrusion caused my family's entire 2024-2025 winter-spring rice crop to be saline, the rice plants grew poorly, and the rice yield was estimated to decrease by about 30-40%. I have harvested more than 50% of the Dai Thom 8 rice variety, the yield has decreased to only 450-500 kg/cong, traders bought it at 6,100 VND/kg, a decrease of 300 VND/kg. After deducting production costs and land rent, I have no profit this crop.”
Mr. Nguyen Van Khai, residing in Vinh Thanh hamlet, Vinh Hoa Hiep commune, has 4 hectares of winter-spring rice damaged by salinity. The yield of harvested rice has decreased from 800 kg to 500 kg/cong. "Given the production losses caused by drought and salinity, I hope that the authorities at all levels will pay attention and soon invest in upgrading the dike system surrounding Vinh Thanh hamlet, Vinh Hoa Hiep commune, to overcome the salinity intrusion, helping farmers feel secure in production in the coming time," said Mr. Khai.
According to the Acting Chairman of Vinh Hoa Commune People's Committee, Hiep Danh Phuong, Vinh Thanh Hamlet is a low-lying area, close to the sea, so when the tide rises, this area is flooded with saltwater intrusion, greatly affecting production. Although many years ago the district invested in building a dike to prevent flooding, this dike is currently quite low and no longer suitable.
According to forecasts from now until May 2025, the drought and salinity situation will continue to be complicated. Currently, closed salinity prevention sluices have been invested in at the beginning of irrigation canals. However, when the tide is high, saltwater overflows the dyke and can threaten people's rice fields. In the coming time, the commune recommends that the province and district soon invest in upgrading the dyke in Vinh Thanh hamlet to protect rice fields, limit salinity intrusion, and help people feel secure in production.
Article and photos: THUY TRANG
Source: https://www.baokiengiang.vn/nong-nghiep/lua-thiet-hai-do-trieu-cuong-man-xam-nhap-24615.html
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