From the beginning of 2025 to now, the drought situation has been complicated in Cao Bang province, negatively affecting agricultural production and people's lives, especially in mountainous districts such as Bao Lac, Hoa An, Ha Quang, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang
Not yet entering the peak of the dry season, many communes in Bao Lac district have recorded serious shortages of domestic water and hundreds of hectares of crops were affected.
According to statistics, the whole district has planted 68.7 hectares of spring rice, reaching nearly 90% of the plan; more than 400 hectares of corn and many areas of soybeans and peanuts. However, prolonged hot weather caused the water source to drain, reservoirs to dry, crops to slow down growth, and some to die.
Communes such as Hong Tri, Khanh Xuan, Xuan Truong, Coc Pang... are "hot" points for drought. In Khanh Xuan commune, all 13 hamlets with crops were affected.
According to information from the People's Committee of Khanh Xuan commune, as of the end of April 2025, the whole commune had 146 households lacking domestic water. People have to transport water from the headquarters of the People's Committee of the commune or temporary water supply points organized by the district.
Growing is facing many difficulties, especially for mulberry and star apple - the main crops expected to increase income for poor and near-poor households.
According to the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bao Lac district, the reason is partly due to the rugged terrain in the highlands, the lack of natural ponds and lakes, along with the damage to many irrigation works and water supply after storm No. 3 that have not been repaired. Current domestic water supply works are mainly self- movements, only enough to be used for about 6-7 months a year.
The story of drought in Bao Lac district is also a common concern of the entire Cao Bang province. According to a quick report from Cao Bang Irrigation Company Limited, up to 521 hectares of 2025 spring crops are at risk of drought.
Localities with large threatened areas include Hoa An (219 hectares of rice), Trung Khanh (181 hectares of crops), Ha Quang (61 hectares of short-term industrial crops), Ha Lang and Nguyen Binh also recorded dozens of hectares of affected trees.
On May 6, actual records showed that the whole Cao Bang province has 65 medium and large irrigation works including reservoirs, pumping stations, dams, etc.
However, up to 13/19 lakes currently only reach 56 - 90% of the designed capacity, the remaining 6 lakes are at a very low level, such as Thom Luong Lake (Nguyen Binh) below 25%, Khuoi Keo Lake (Trung Khanh) only reaching 42,2% of the capacity.
The water flow on the rivers has also decreased sharply, causing pumping stations such as Pac Cay, Na Lau, and Na Dam to operate un stably, affecting irrigation capacity.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang (Hoa An district) shared: "Every year in the dry season, people in the highlands always have a hard time finding water to irrigate rice and corn plants. Irrigation canal water is no longer the reason why people have to use their own pumps to pump water into the river, but this year the river is gradually draining, so people don't know where to find water".
Faced with the risk of prolonged drought, districts and cities in the province are urgently implementing a series of solutions such as: assessing and inventorying irrigation water resources; developing production management scenarios; adjusting seasons or converting crops if necessary.
In addition, Cao Bang province is encouraging people to store rainwater, use it economically, install temporary pumping stations, repair canals, and protect upstream forests to increase long-term water retention capacity.
