Strive to basically complete the winter-spring water collection in the first phase.

From 0:00 on January 23, hydroelectric reservoirs will release water in the first phase for the Northern Midlands and Delta regions to get water for winter-spring rice cultivation. Therefore, irrigation works operators and cooperatives in the province are focusing on maximum human resources and means to import water into the canal system and fields, striving to complete the first water release for 100% of the cultivated area.

Carrying out the task of supplying water for more than 350 hectares of winter-spring rice of 8 cooperatives in 3 localities: Khanh Nhac, Khanh Hong, Khanh Thuy (Yen Khanh district), in recent days, Hong Duc Irrigation Cluster, Yen Khanh District Agricultural and Rural Development Branch has focused 100% of its human resources to operate electric pumping stations, along with taking advantage of high tides and salinity to open locks and sluices to bring water into the canal system and fields.

At Ky Giang pumping station, Khanh Nhac commune, 2 pumps with a capacity of more than 1000 m3/h are operating at full capacity to bring water to the fields. Ms. To Thi Hue, Head of Hong Duc Irrigation Cluster said: In this year's winter-spring crop, the tidal water source is more difficult due to high salinity. Like the day before, the salinity in Kim Dai estuary reached 14 parts per thousand, so the unit can only get water from the Moi River estuary, while the Vac River estuary can only get water for the last 2 days of the last tide. We are continuing to be on duty, monitoring, waiting for the next tide, combining with the water source discharged from the hydroelectric reservoir to get water in, ensuring enough water for people to sow and plant according to the set crop schedule.

According to the representative of the Yen Khanh District Agricultural Extension Branch, as of January 28, nearly 6,843 hectares out of 7,300 hectares of production land in the district had enough water for planting (nearly 94%).

Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, Director of Nam Cuong Cooperative, Khanh Cuong Commune, shared: According to the plan, this winter-spring crop, the Cooperative will plant more than 200 hectares of rice. At this point, the water source is sufficient, the land preparation is basically completed, the Cooperative strives to complete the planting of the entire area before Tet.

Unlike other localities in the province, Kim Son district has the characteristic that most of its irrigation water comes from tidal sources. Therefore, it has to wait for hydroelectric reservoirs to release water to bring water to the fields. For example, around mid-January this year, while many localities in the North of the province such as Hoa Lu, Yen Mo, Yen Khanh districts, and Ninh Binh city have taken 80-90% of the area, Kim Son only has more than 1% of the area with water.

Mr. Pham Hong Giang, Head of the Kim Son District KTCTTL Branch, said: Completely dependent on tidal water sources, when the hydroelectric reservoirs release water, the unit has requested irrigation clusters to arrange 24/7 staff, take advantage of the time to receive water, operate well the works to regulate, deacidify, wash away salinity, and combine with environmental sanitation on the river axes. This year is very favorable because the hydroelectric reservoir released water at 0:00 on January 23, and by about 22:00 on the same day, the salinity had decreased, so many sluices under the dike in the area were opened to receive water. The unit strives to get enough water for all 8,000 hectares of rice in the district during this first water release.

Present at Tan Hung-Bien Nhi culvert, in the cold weather, we witnessed the irrigation officers still working diligently day and night, on duty, continuously checking the salinity to ensure the quality of the water brought in.

Mr. Tran Van The, Head of Tan Hung-Bien Nhi Sewer Team, shared: In the beginning, we had to measure the salinity every 15-20 minutes. Only when the sweetness was stable did we measure every 1-2 hours to ensure that the water source was not salty and not to miss a single moment to bring water in. "This year is lucky because the tide is favorable, the water source is abundant, we will definitely get enough during the first hydroelectric discharge. We will not have to celebrate New Year's Eve outside the construction site like previous years..." - Mr. The happily said.

In the 2023-2024 winter-spring crop, the whole province plans to cultivate over 39,000 hectares of rice. To ensure irrigation water sources, from the beginning of the crop, the Irrigation Sub-Department has closely coordinated with the Provincial KTCTTL One Member Co., Ltd. and localities to proactively develop plans and effectively manage the exploitation of irrigation works, dredge canals, manage resources, save water, proactively take water according to the water discharge schedule of the Vietnam Electricity Group (for tidal areas), regulate water in the electric pump area and the lake area according to the production requirements of each region and each locality. As a result, by 10:00 a.m. on January 28, the area with enough water for land preparation was 33,556 hectares (accounting for 85.7%).

The localities that have basically had enough water (over 90% of the area) are Hoa Lu, Yen Mo, Yen Khanh, Ninh Binh city and Tam Diep. The stage of taking water to prepare the land for the spring rice crop is very important, deciding the planting season. Along with the efforts of the irrigation unit, the localities need to be proactive and focus on taking and retaining water, avoiding water loss that must be pumped back. At the same time, implement bringing machinery to the fields to prepare the land as soon as there is enough water.

This year’s planting schedule will start from around February 4th (around the beginning of spring). Adequate irrigation and soil preparation will ensure that the planting schedule is followed.

Nguyen Luu

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