The onset of the dry season in Quang Nam brings with it serious challenges, with temperatures rising to 41°C and water shortages threatening agricultural and household needs. Governments, businesses and communities across the province are uniting to combat the looming crisis as they anticipate a prolonged drought.
According to Mr O Van Tong, director of the Quang Nam Water Resources Management and Operations Company, the management of 17 reservoirs, the operation of 29 high-capacity electric pumping stations and the maintenance of 31 sluice gates are critical to ensuring the irrigation of 25,000 hectares of mainly rice crops in the coming summer. autumn season 2024. However, water scarcity is a serious threat, with about 60 hectares of rice fields at risk of water shortages, especially in areas served by reservoirs such as Ong Tien and Phuoc Ha.
Proactive measures taken include sourcing water from electric pumping stations and deploying emergency pumping stations to mitigate acute water shortages. Additionally, proposals to use sand from river dredging projects to build embankments to prevent saltwater intrusion highlight a multifaceted approach to solving the crisis. However, challenges remain, particularly the potential impact of saltwater intrusion on river systems such as the Thu Bon River, which could severely disrupt irrigation operations on thousands of hectares of farmland.
Quang Nam province faces major challenges as it confronts the specter of drought and water shortages. While concerted efforts are being made to maintain agricultural productivity through innovative solutions and infrastructure improvements, tackling nature’s adversities highlights the resilience and determination of the agricultural community in addressing challenges to food security and sustainable livelihoods.
