Xuan Loc is self-motivated in irrigation for winter-spring production

Plants Conversion to save water

According to plan, in 2006-2007 Winter-Spring Production Xuan Loc District will cultivate about 2.570 hectares, 300 hectares increase in comparison with last crop. Due to increase of cultivating areas, irrigation has to be considered, otherwise drought will be occurred. Method of Plant Conversion for saving water have been carried out successfully recent years in Xuan Loc 

Especially, in the recent years, rice areas of winter-spring production decrease significantly to replace by plants (corn, bean, and vegetable). According to agricultural estimation, if we replace 1 hectare rice by corn or other plants, water supply will be half reduced. Xuan Loc applied thoroughly this method. In 2006-2007 winter-spring production, Xuan Loc has only 300 hectares of rice remaining decreased 500 hectares in comparison with 2005-2006 winter-spring production. 

Ms Nguyen Thi Ninh- an agricultural staff of district told the rice areas still remain because terrain is low lands. It is impossible for replacing other plants and some belongs to ethnic minorities who get used to producing rice. Plant Conversion not only saves water for irrigation but also has higher financial value. “I have more than 1 hectares of rice, changed to corn, and we get over 20 millions every year. With my estimations, income of planting corn is double in comparison with planting rice”. Ms Nguyen Thi Hue- a Xuan Phu farmer said

Save water by all methods 

It is not familiar to other areas, irrigation works for winter-spring production have been implemented since rainy season finish, including increase of overflowing threshold of water reservoir, stopping springs to save water, and dredging canal of interior fields…  Water reservoirs are Gia Ui, Le Mountain which heightens to 30-40cm of overflowing threshold in order to increase water supply. Besides, series of sandbag and cement dams have been built along the springs. Mr. Nguyen Van Linh- an irrigational staff of district appreciates “Saving water of springs for supplying to dry season is excellent method”

If there aren’t the dams, when the rainy season ends, water of springs will be dry. According to estimation, each such dam ensures water supply for 15 hectares. Saving water also increases land’s moisture to surrounding areas of springs. At the present, on the area of Xuan Loc, there are over 100 dams including temporary and cemented dams. Knowing effects of these dams, Xuan Loc People Committee budgets for solid building of temporary dams. To solidified dams, building has been carried out by launching a movement called “State and People together”. Among them, Xuan Loc solidified 9 dams in 2006, and according to plan, there will be 11 more dams in this year. Xuan Loc economic office told, this method ensures water supply stably

(Source Dong Nai Newspaper)