Floodwaters to harvest rice and pick potatoes for people
After storm No. 1, when the heavy rain had just stopped, the sun was already shining. Many areas of crops submerged in floodwater are at risk of losing everything.
Amidst the hot sunlight after the rain, Ms. Le Thi Nu (68 years old, village 5, Gio Hai commune, Gio Linh district) and her husband packed up the rice that had just been harvested. This season, the couple has been growing 4 sao of rice fields on the sandy land next to their house. Due to sowing late, the rice ripened later than the season. Thinking that it was about to be harvested, I expected that just one day of heavy rain, floodwater from upstream would flow in, causing the entire field to be deeply flooded.
"My wife and I are old, unable to work and spend, thinking is like left empty-handed" - Mrs. Nu shared. However, in the most difficult time, she did not expect to receive timely support from the Border Guard and Coast Guard.
On the morning of June 14, Cua Viet Port Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Border Guard) and Squadron 202 - Coast Guard Command Region 2 were present at the foot of the field. After checking and seeing that the rice had not yet sprouted, the soldiers quickly organized a harvest. From 7:30 to 10:00 a.m., 4 sao of rice was harvested and brought ashore for drying.
By the afternoon of June 15, the rice harvested had been dried and packed in 25 bags, each bag was 35 kg - a total of 875 kg. That is enough to save a seemingly lost crop. "If it weren't for the border guards and Coast Guard to help, we would have lost everything" - she was moved.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh - Mrs. Nu's daughter - said that when she saw the rice harvesters helping her parents, she suggested inviting them to a meal but they refused. After harvesting one field, they go to another field to support. I am very touched, I would like to thank you - Ms. Hanh said.
Rushing with the people, not leaving the crop empty
Not only Mrs. Nu's family, after storm No. 1, many households in Gio Linh also suffered damage. The family of Mr. Phan Van Huan (village 9, Trung Giang commune) had 3 sao of melons flooded, unable to rescue them. However, seeing that many households could still harvest peanuts and potatoes if they were in time, Mr. Huan joined forces to help people remove the r ambush.
"My family considered it lost, but seeing that other households could still save it, we helped. As much as possible, I will save it" - Mr. Huan shared.
On June 14 and 15, Cua Viet Border Guard Station mobilized 15 soldiers every day to support people to harvest rice, peanuts and potatoes. After two days, the units helped the people harvest 20 sao of rice (5.5 tons), spit 4 sao of peanuts (400 kg) and 1 sao of potato (1 ton).
Rice, peanuts, and potatoes are in floodwaters, making harvesting very difficult. The yield has decreased sharply, some households have not aged yet, only reaching 40% of the yield but still have to pick them up to avoid spoilage.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Viet An - Head of Cua Viet Port Border Guard Station - said: "We understand the damage of the people, report to superiors for opinions and mobilize forces in a timely manner. From commander to soldier, everyone goes out to the fields with the people, doing whatever they can to help.
Lieutenant Colonel An emphasized that if the harvest is slow, the entire flooded area will be damaged. Therefore, in the coming days, the unit will continue to coordinate with forces to harvest as quickly as possible, minimizing damage to people in flooded areas.
