Water pressure challenges onion and garlic farming in Ly Son

Since early April 2026, Ly Son Island has been experiencing prolonged periods of intense heat. Across the island’s onion and garlic fields, farmers have been busy operating water pumps and laying irrigation pipes to maintain soil moisture for crops. Anti-drought efforts have intensified as groundwater resources face growing pressure.

The family of Le Thanh Tien in Dong An Vinh hamlet, Ly Son Special Zone, currently cultivates more than 5 sao of onions and garlic. After harvesting the garlic crop at the end of March, his family immediately planted a new onion crop. According to Tien, onions require frequent watering during periods of intense heat to ensure proper growth.

The family mainly draws irrigation water from Ong Ly Well, one of the island’s largest freshwater wells. However, during peak production periods, dozens of households extract water from the same source, requiring more careful and economical use. Many farmers have installed pipelines stretching several kilometers to transport water to their fields.

Many farmers said production costs have risen significantly due to higher fuel costs for water pumps and longer irrigation times. Meanwhile, insufficient water during critical growth stages can clearly affect onion and garlic yield and quality.

In addition to conserving water, island residents have proactively adjusted crop structures to suit weather conditions. According to local farming practices, onions are cultivated three times a year, while garlic is planted only once. During prolonged drought years, many households reduce onion-growing areas or switch to maize and other less water-intensive crops to reduce pressure on groundwater resources.

One distinctive feature of farming in Ly Son is the technique of covering fields with white sand. Besides contributing to the unique flavor of Ly Son onions and garlic, the sand layer also helps retain moisture, reduce soil temperature, and limit evaporation during hot weather.

Agricultural experts consider this cultivation method highly suitable for the island’s natural conditions. The combination of sand covering and proper irrigation techniques helps crops better adapt to prolonged dry weather and rising temperatures.

Nguyen Thanh Dung, a long-time onion and garlic farmer in Dong An Vinh hamlet, said agricultural production on the island depends heavily on water resources. His family currently cultivates more than 1 hectare of onions and garlic and actively implements drought-prevention measures, including drilling additional wells, dividing cultivation areas into smaller plots, and prioritizing irrigation for fields with easier access to water.

According to Mr. Dung, many households have invested in water-saving irrigation systems and now prefer watering early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce water loss. Fields are irrigated in rotation to maintain soil moisture while conserving extracted water supplies.

Beyond agricultural production, ensuring a domestic water supply for residents is also a major local concern. On Be Island, many households have built underground rainwater storage tanks for use during the dry season. Freshwater reservoirs on the island have also significantly reduced water shortages for local residents.

Alongside short-term measures, local authorities are encouraging residents to raise awareness about water conservation in daily life. Some residential areas have actively promoted water reuse for irrigation and efforts to reduce water waste.

Nguyen Van Huy, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ly Son Special Zone, said the locality is currently building two additional large-scale rainwater storage reservoirs, expected to be completed in 2026. At the same time, a rainwater storage system project with a total investment capital of approximately VND 75 billion is being restarted to increase the island’s water storage capacity.

According to local leaders, in the long term, Ly Son plans to invest in a seawater desalination plant under the approved tourism development plan to meet domestic and service water demand as tourist numbers continue to rise.

In addition, local authorities are strengthening management of groundwater extraction to protect water resources. Since July 1, 2025, Ly Son Special Zone has ended uncontrolled well drilling to prevent groundwater depletion and pollution from agricultural production and environmental impacts.

As climate change intensifies, water security on the frontline island of Ly Son is no longer just a social welfare issue but is also closely tied to sustainable agriculture and green tourism development. Proactively storing rainwater, conserving water, and controlling groundwater extraction are considered urgent solutions to help the island adapt to increasingly severe drought conditions.

$1 = VND 26,387 (Source: Vietcombank).