Early rain dilutes salinity in Hau Giang

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Hau Giang (VNA) – Early downpour before the upcoming rainy season has cut down the salinity content from 2 to 4 times in rivers and agricultural land in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang.

According to salinity-measurements, salinity levels were down in nearly all districts and towns in the province. Salinity was under 5 parts per thousand in Vam Cai Su, Save Church, Vinh Cheo and Nang Mau in Vi Thuy district. The decline was also seen in Vi Thanh city and Long My town.

Heavy rains lasting from one to two hours in recent days were the cause of the decline in salinity.

According to Le Phuoc Dai, Head of the Hau Giang Irrigation Department, the saline intrusion might last until June given that heavy rain did not reach some localities.

The province’s agricultural sector has warned commune and town governments to monitor the drought and saline intrusion and close more temporary dams if salinity levels continue rising.

In early May, Hau Giang announced a saline intrusion disaster at Vi Thanh City, Long My and Vi Thuy districts and Long My town.

According to Hau Giang’s agricultural sector, saline intrusion reached 80 percent of agricultural land, damaging 1,200 hectares rice by at least over 30 percent and making 6,000 hectares of rice unusable for cultivation in the Summer-Autumn crop.-VNA