According to the Ben Tre Province Hydrometeorological Station, the deepest salinity intrusion in the area will occur in February - March 2025. Before the above forecast, at this time, fruit tree farmers have begun to store fresh water in canals and fields for irrigation.
Mr. Hung (61 years old, residing in Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province) said that when he heard the forecast of the authorities about the upcoming drought and salinity, he stored fresh water in canals and tanks. He will use this water source for daily life and irrigation during the drought and salinity.
Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Muoi Nho (residing in Tam Hiep commune, Binh Dai district, Ben Tre province) said that every year, when saltwater intrusion occurs, the water source around Tam Hiep islet will be contaminated with salt. Therefore, he and the people here have proactively pumped and stored fresh water in garden ditches, regularly adding fresh water to the ditches to use to overcome the drought and salinity in 2024 - 2025.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters on November 20, Mr. Bui Van Tham - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ben Tre province - said that currently, the water supply enterprise has connected water pipes from Ben Tre city to Thanh Phu district to ensure the supply of fresh water to local people.
For the Chau Thanh district area bordering Binh Dai district, due to not being connected to the province's water pipeline, the Department has requested water supply enterprises to share and transport fresh water by means of vehicles to provide for people during the drought and salinity period.
According to Mr. Tham, regarding construction solutions, the sewer system in Ba Tri, Mo Cay Nam and Cho Lach districts has been put into use. Thereby, salinity has been controlled to ensure production safety for 8,400 hectares of agricultural land, providing domestic water for 92,000 people and 40,000 livestock; improving the land, improving the environment, and stabilizing the lives of residents in these areas.
The Ben Tre Water Management Project (JICA3 Project) is also being invested in by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mr. Tham added that the locality is currently strengthening propaganda to local people to store fresh water in canals and water containers for irrigation and daily use when drought and salinity occur.
