Dong Thap Proactively Bolsters Response To Drought And Saltwater Intrusion In 2025–2026 Dry Season
(DTO) To secure water supplies for production and daily use during the 2025–2026 dry season, Dong Thap province has proactively developed response plans and rolled out multiple mitigation measures. Thanks to early and decisive action, water sources for both production and household consumption remain ensured to date.
During the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, tidal surges combined with strong northeast monsoon winds drove saline intrusion deep into the province.
On the Tien River, salinity reached 0.45g per litre at the Political School Bridge area in Trung An Ward.
By maintaining constant monitoring and regular observation, the province has successfully operated its irrigation systems to prevent saltwater intrusion in a timely manner.
Furthermore, to protect production and domestic water for the Go Cong Freshwater Project—an area directly affected by drought and salinity—the province operated the Xuan Hoa sluice gate to intake freshwater during low tides. As a result, activities in the Go Cong Freshwater area remain stable and unaffected.
In the double-crop rice zones of Gia Thuan Commune, many farmers have opted to skip the autumn-winter crop in recent years to "evade salinity."
Currently, harvesting for the winter-spring crop has begun. This season, the family of Pham Cong Son (Cau Xay Hamlet, Gia Thuan Commune) sowed 0.55 hectares of the Dai Thom 8 rice variety.
Following the Tet break, his family hired combine harvesters to begin the harvest.
According to Mr. Pham Cong Son, the water supply for production remains abundant due to the State's enhanced water storage efforts. Even at harvest time, water continues to submerge the fields.
Similarly, in Tan Hoa Commune—another area directly vulnerable to salinity—the water source remains plentiful.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Director of the Phuoc Trung Agricultural Service Cooperative, stated that the cooperative sowed approximately 150 hectares of rice this season. Members are expected to start harvesting in about a week.
"Water sources for production are currently very abundant as the Irrigation Works Exploitation Company has stepped up water intake for storage. With this situation, farmers no longer worry about salinity this year. 100% of our members' rice area has been covered by off-take agreements at prices higher than the market," Mr. Nguyen Van Tai added.
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, saltwater intrusion in the 2025–2026 dry season is forecast to peak around the middle of the second lunar month.
On the Tien River, a salinity level of 1g/l is expected to reach the Xoai Hot sluice gate (Kim Son Commune), similar to the 2024–2025 dry season.
With the current internal field storage and intrusion trends, water for daily life and rice production is fundamentally guaranteed.
Moving forward, the agricultural sector, local authorities, and residents will strictly follow the province's 2026 drought and salinity response plan.
As hot weather may extend into May this year, the agricultural sector and local authorities remain vigilant, preparing for scenarios where salinity could exceed the 2024–2025 levels.
Under a Directive issued by the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee on drought and salinity prevention in 2026, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee has requested heads of provincial departments, agencies and relevant units, as well as chairpersons of commune- and ward-level People’s Committees, to proactively review and formulate detailed plans to effectively implement drought and salinity prevention and response measures during the 2025–2026 dry season.
In particular, southwestern and downstream communes and wards are required to develop detailed and specific contingency plans for each area, locality and unit to ensure timely and effective response in accordance with the “Four On-The-Spot” principle.
Key solutions include strengthening communication efforts to widely disseminate information on complex weather developments, enabling residents to respond proactively with urgency and heightened vigilance, especially regarding drought and saline intrusion during the 2026 dry season.
At the same time, authorities will intensify inspections and develop plans to maintain, repair and upgrade salinity prevention structures as well as freshwater conveyance and storage facilities, ensuring timely and effective salinity control and freshwater supply for drought response.
By T. DAT
Translated by X.QUANG
