Proactive farmers Mr. Tran Van Phuong - a farmer in Thoi An Hoi commune (Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province) - said that although Tet is coming and Spring is coming, his family is reunited, but he still does not forget to closely monitor the situation of saltwater intrusion to protect more than 1 hectare of rice over 10 days old.
“In recent days, I have been checking the sluices regularly to prevent saltwater intrusion into the fields and proactively taking in water before the saltwater arrives. Saltwater has begun to infiltrate the fields, so I have to monitor it constantly to close the sluices in time. Even though I am busy during Tet, I still have to go to the fields to take care of them. If I am negligent, I will lose my crop,” said Mr. Phuong.
Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh - a durian farmer in Ba Trinh commune (Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province) - is not complacent these days. He said that his family's 1.5 hectares of durian are bearing fruit and are very susceptible to salinity. Therefore, he often spends time monitoring information from local salinity measurement teams and groups.
“I always check the dikes and culverts. Whenever there is fresh water, I take advantage of it to fill the garden ditches. When the salinity rises, I completely close the culverts and gaps to retain the fresh water, not letting it out but also not letting the salt water seep into the garden. When the salinity decreases, I release the water to water the plants,” said Mr. Hoang Anh.
Building response scenarios
Mr. Pham Tan Dao - Head of the Soc Trang Province Irrigation Sub-Department - said that according to the forecast of the Soc Trang Province Hydrometeorological Station, salinity will strongly and deeply penetrate rivers and canals on January 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30 (the 29th, 1st, and 2nd of the Lunar New Year).
To proactively respond to the drought and salinity situation, the Soc Trang Province Irrigation Department recommends that localities increase information, check water sources before use; use water economically and consciously share water resources. Localities need to have plans to dredge canals to store fresh water and monitor the developments of high tides and salinity intrusion to have appropriate response plans.
Mr. Dao informed that Soc Trang province has also developed a detailed response plan with 2 different scenarios, corresponding to 2 risk levels, to proactively prevent and combat drought, water shortage and saltwater intrusion in the 2024-2025 dry season.
In particular, focus on maintaining, repairing and reinforcing damaged irrigation works; dredging canals to optimize water resources, minimize loss; focus on effectively operating existing irrigation works to prevent salinity, store fresh water, and ensure irrigation water sources.
Localities also recommend that people adhere to the crop calendar, choose drought- and salinity-resistant crop varieties, apply scientific and technical advances, especially water-saving irrigation solutions; and resolutely not allow production in areas at risk of serious freshwater shortages.
According to the Soc Trang Province Hydrometeorological Station, from January to April 2025 is the peak period of the dry season. The highest salinity forecast on the Hau River in Tran De district is from 23.8 - 25.8‰, in the center of Long Phu district from 19.7 - 21.7‰, in Dai Ngai (Long Phu district) from 9.9 - 11.9‰, in An Lac Tay (Ke Sach district) from 5.2 - 7.2. On the My Thanh River in Thanh Thoi Thuan (Tran De district) from 20.6 - 22.6‰, in Thanh Phu (My Xuyen district) from 7.7 - 9.7‰.
Previously, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Soc Trang province also advised farmers not to plant late winter-spring crops in areas affected by drought and salinity such as Long Phu, Tran De, Soc Trang city and My Xuyen; For Ke Sach district and part of Chau Thanh district, only when the freshwater source on the canals in the fields is capable of serving production, will they decide to plant crops.
