The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just sent a document to the people’s committees of the provinces and cities in the Midlands and North Delta on strengthening the implementation of solutions to adapt to the scarcity of water sources for rice cultivation in the winter-spring harvest 2022 – 2023.
According to EVN, the water discharges for the planting of winter-spring rice from 2022 to 2023 will be at most 7/8 units operational, resulting in a shortage of additional water for the downstream area compared to previous years. Picture: Minh Phuc.
The water level of the Red River is getting lower and lower
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, during the water regulation periods, due to the influence of changes in the river bed, the water level of the Red River serves the winter-spring rice cultivation in the Midlands and North Delta (Northern Delta) continuously lowered every year, which improves the efficiency of water intake from irrigation systems is seriously affected, and the total volume of regulated water from hydroelectric reservoirs tends to increase continuously.
To adapt, many effective solutions have been implemented, where pumping stations are able to work independently of additional flows from hydroelectric power plants newly built or repaired by municipalities. Actually, however, the progress of water collection between places is not uniform, resulting in a longer time for water collection, especially in recent years, the third phase of water only needs to be regulated for a small area in districts Tho, Quoc Oai, Thach That… (Hanoi).
On September 12, 2022, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) released Document No. 5093/EVN-KTSX on Discharge and Collection of Water for Rice Cultivation in Winter-Spring Crop 2022-2023 in Midlands and Red River Delta . According to EVN, the hydroelectric power reservoirs in the Red River basin are currently at a low storage level, and the Hoa Binh hydroelectric power station is expected to carry out regular equipment replacement, so that during the winter-spring water discharges for rice cultivation in 2022-2023, only a maximum of 2022- 7/8 units will be operational in 2023, resulting in a shortage of additional downstream water compared to previous years.
Due to the change in the canal, the water level of the Red River is getting lower and lower, making it increasingly difficult to get water. Picture: Minh Phuc.
Complete water collection in phase 2
In light of the above situation, follow the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thanh in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Document No. 150/VPCP-NN dated January 7, 2022 to proactively ensure sufficient water sources for planting. Agriculture and Rural Development proposes that provincial and municipal people’s committees guide and organize the implementation of the following:
1) Developing a plan to collect water for rice cultivation in winter-spring harvest 2022 – 2023 with the need to use additional water sources from hydroelectric power plants in only 2 phases, the latest completion time is around 02/10/2023 (No need for 3 . rate).
2) Organize a review of the water intakes from the Red River – Thai Binh river system to determine the specific water intake capacity, if this is not certain, it is necessary to have an alternative water regulation plan or install pumping stations take the initiative to water pick up.
3) Hanoi People’s Committee directs to organize urgent installation of field pumping stations Trung Ha, Phu Sa, Lien Mac…or have alternative water source plan to ensure proactive water supply regardless of current flow, additional flow from hydroelectric reservoirs, no need to regulate additional water from hydroelectric storage after February 10, 2023 (phase 3).
4) strengthening the organization of dredging of the canal system, water intakes of pumping stations and culverts; Perform good field irrigation to ensure ability to conduct and store water.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed that the provincial and municipal people’s committees in the Midlands and Northern Delta regions complete the collection of water for the 2022 – 2023 winter-spring rice harvest no later than February 10, 2023 (no need for the third phase). Picture: DQ.
5) Accelerating the construction and completion of investment water extraction works to put them into operation without delay to collect water for the 2022-2023 winter-spring harvest.
6) Areas likely to experience difficulties in water supply for irrigation should consider changing the cultivation pattern from rice to crops with lower water requirements or have an alternative water source that does not depend on additional water sources.
7) strengthen communication to let people know about the difficult situation of water sources, proactively coordinate with irrigation works operators to focus on collecting water during water abstraction; Guidance and mobilization of people to limit the sowing method and reduce the need for water.