Multi-purpose irrigation effectively protects production from natural disasters

Responding to the year-end tidal surge

Mr. Le Tu Do, Deputy General Director of Southern Water Resources Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company, stated that the company has issued an operation plan for the Cai Lon, Cai Be, and Xeo Ro sluice systems in December 2024 to respond to adverse weather conditions.

According to the forecast for the tidal surge in the Western Sea, the tidal surge is expected to occur from December 16-18, with the peak tide appearing between 3 to 6 a.m. daily. Therefore, it is necessary to proactively prevent the tidal surge combined with rising water levels, which may cause localized flooding in low-lying areas, affecting transportation infrastructure, agricultural production, and the movement of people, especially in the areas along the Cai Lon, Cai Be rivers, Can Gao canal, and urban areas.

Accordingly, from December 15-18, the Mekong Delta Branch of Southern Water Resources Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company will operate flexibly from 5 to 7 up to 9 of the 11 sluice gates of the Cai Lon system. When 9 or more gates of the Cai Lon sluice are closed, water vehicles will be directed to pass through the lock. The Cai Be sluice will fully open/close both gates, with vessels passing through the lock. The Xeo Ro sluice will be operated as required by local authorities.

The Cai Lon sluice will be operated when the salinity at the Cai Tu bridge (the boundary between Kien Giang and Hau Giang) is forecasted to exceed or equal to 1g/liter. The sluice will be operated flexibly to control salinity. If the salinity at Cai Tu bridge is expected to drop below 1g/liter, the Cai Lon sluice will either be opened freely or operated flexibly, depending on the actual water conditions, water quality, and production progress in the area.

If the above operations are carried out but the salinity at the Cai Tu bridge continues to rise above 1g/liter, the company will issue a request to the Irrigation Works Management Center of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces to operate the sluice systems in the Quan Lo - Phung Hiep irrigation network to assist in salinity drainage.

The Cai Be sluice will be operated if the salinity at the Tram Bau station is forecasted to exceed or equal to 1g/liter. The sluice will operate flexibly to control salinity. The Xeo Ro sluice will be operated when local authorities request cooperation.

Additionally, water has been supplied for dilution when salinity levels in shrimp farming areas in An Bien and An Minh districts are high. In December 2024, when the salinity at the Xeo Quao and Kim Quy stations exceeds 25g/liter and local areas require diluted water supply, the Cai Lon, Cai Be, and Xeo Ro sluices, in coordination with the sluice systems in An Bien and An Minh districts, are operated flexibly to reduce salinity and support freshwater supply for dilution.

Southern Water Resources Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company requests the Department of Irrigation, along with the operators of irrigation works in Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, and Ca Mau provinces, to cooperate in the operation of the irrigation system according to the approved operation procedures. Localities in the benefiting areas should be notified about the operation plan and follow the seasonal schedule to carry out proactive and effective production plans.

Effective protection of production areas

In 2024, the Mekong Delta Branch of Southern Water Resources Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company organized the operation and exploitation of the irrigation works under its management, maximizing their effectiveness. In Kien Giang province, the districts in the benefiting areas of the Cai Lon - Cai Be project have completed the harvest of the 2024 summer-autumn rice crop on over 106,500 hectares, with an estimated yield of nearly 663,700 tons.

The 2024 autumn-winter rice crop has been fully harvested on 40,100 hectares, with an estimated yield of nearly 227,800 tons. The 2024-2025 summer-autumn rice crop (mainly planted on shrimp farming land) has been fully seeded on nearly 77,600 hectares, and the 2024-2025 winter-spring rice crop has been seeded on about 36,000 hectares out of the planned 105,649 hectares.

In Hau Giang province, the districts of Long My, Vi Thuy, Long My town, and Vi Thanh city have planted nearly 17,300 hectares of autumn-winter rice in 2024. By the beginning of December, over 14,000 hectares had been harvested, with an estimated yield of 76,800 tons. The area planted with vegetables in 2024 has reached a cumulative total of more than 13,850 hectares, with 12,066 hectares harvested. The area for fruit trees is 12,830 hectares, of which 11,376 hectares are currently bearing fruit. The area for aquaculture, including pond and field fish farming, is over 6,040 hectares.

In the districts of Phuoc Long and Hong Dan in Bac Lieu province, the autumn-winter rice crop has been planted on 7,350 hectares. The 2024-2025 summer-autumn rice crop has been planted on over 40,100 hectares. The 2024-2025 winter-spring rice crop has been planted on more than 1,200 hectares. The area planted with various vegetables is 3,190 hectares, with 2,940 hectares harvested. The area for aquaculture, mainly shrimp and marine crabs, has reached a cumulative total of 49,500 hectares, of which over 7,200 hectares are currently under cultivation.

In Nga Nam Town, Soc Trang province, the 2024 autumn-winter rice crop has been planted on nearly 1,430 hectares, with 650 hectares harvested so far. The area for growing vegetables and fruit trees has reached a cumulative total of 4,875 hectares, including 1,540 hectares for fruit trees.

In the implementation process, Southern Water Resources Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company has closely coordinated with management units, individuals, irrigation works operators, and localities in the benefiting areas to operate the works safely and control the water sources effectively according to the approved operation procedures.