LookAtVietnam – Inefficient sluice gates and high sea levels are being blamed after salt water flooded tens of thousands of hectares of rice in various districts of the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang.

Saltwater has invaded thousands of hectares of rice paddy in various districts of the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang.

As a result, salty water reached Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces. Two of three sea water sluice gates in the Gia Rai district were out of order, so the water was not released.

Statistics compiled by agriculture authorities show about 10,000ha of summer-autumn rice in the Nga Nam district were damaged a fortnight ago.

“About 5,000ha waiting for rice transplantation are also flooded,” said Nguyen Van Tien, manager of the district’s agriculture and rural development division.

The damaged areas were more than 70 per cent of the district’s total area, said Tien. “Luckily, local residents have harvested more than 17,300ha of winter-spring rice so have enough to live on. We will support them with rice seed when saline levels drop.”

In Hau Giang province, the director of the Department of Irrigation said Vi Thanh town had not been seriously affected by salty water during the past 23 years. More than 18,000ha of rice was affected and there was insufficient fresh water for the town’s water plant.

In Bac Lieu province, 25ha of rice died and 5,000ha was threatened by salty water.

Last week, the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development met agriculture authorities from the three provinces to discuss measures to resolve the problem, said deputy director of the department Do Hong Hai.

“The rise of saline water was partially because the operating process of Bac Lieu Province’s sluice gates was not suitable,” said Hai.

The most important of Bac Lieu’s 21 sluice gates built in 1996 are Gia Rai, Ho Phong and Lang Tram. They regulate flows for Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Soc Trang and Hau Giang but are in poor condition.

Bac Lieu received a fifth of the VND1.5-3 billion (US$83,300-166,700) it needs annually to upgrade the sluice gates.

“In the short term, we asked the province’s authority to check the gates’ efficiency to reduce the amount of salty water reaching neighbouring provinces,” said Hai.

The department is considering seeking MARD approval to upgrade the gates. “We may spend about VND150 billion ($8.3 million),” said Hai.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News