Deputy Director of the provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development Pham Quang Thuu said theprovince regularly faces prolonged droughts, resulting in a lack of water forproduction, farming, and daily use.
During the winter-spring crop of2019, over 530ha of rice and others were switched to short-day and long-day plants.The remaining will be also changed during summer-autumn and other crops.
The department asked theprovincial Agricultural Expansion Encouragement Centre (AEEC) to promotetechnical transfer to farmers and spread farming models that are adaptable todrought conditions, including water-saving irrigation and VietGap farmingmodels for grapes, apples, and vegetables.
AEEC Director Nguyen Tin said thecentre is working with localities to review farming in water-scarce areas, suchas Thuan Bac, Ninh Phuoc, Thuan Nam, and Ninh Hai districts.
Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Tran Quoc Nam urged relevant district authorities to take sternaction with crop switching, as well as promptly piloting and spreadingwater-saving farming models.
According to the department, theprovince switched nearly 300ha of inefficient rice to long-day crops such asgrape and apple last year, which helped save water by 25-30 percent, generatemore jobs, and increase locals’ incomes.–VNA