Joy when irrigation water covers everywhere

In the historic days of April, in the exciting atmosphere of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the people of Binh Thuan were excited and joyful in the common joy of the nation. After 50 years of liberation, along with the development of all aspects of the economy and society, irrigation is considered a significant achievement, contributing to "painting green" on the arid land of Binh Thuan, helping people's lives to improve day by day...

That joy was shared by Mr. Mang Dung, Tan Dien village, Phan Dien commune, Bac Binh district, when he stood looking at the cool, clear water flowing through the irrigation canal system, passing through Phan Dien commune. Mr. Dung recounted: “This land used to be very difficult, arid, only producing one crop per year due to dependence on the weather. Until the State had a policy to build Uy Thay - Da Gia canal and many irrigation works in the area, it helped people's lives to dispel the fear of water shortage. Since the irrigation system was built, people have changed from producing one crop to three crops, switching crops, increasing production efficiency on the same unit area. Thanks to that, local people's income has increased day by day".

Mr. Nguyen Van Cong, village 1, Phuoc The commune, Tuy Phong district, shared the joy: Tuy Phong is a sunny and windy land, often lacking water. Since the lake and irrigation dam were built, the lives of the people and farmers have developed. Before, there was a drought, there were 1-2 crops per year, now with irrigation works, farmers can take the initiative in water, so they can produce 5 crops per 2 years, farmers' lives have developed significantly.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuoc - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Binh Thuan said: After Liberation Day on April 30, 1975, there were only 28 small irrigation works in the area with a design irrigation capacity of 1,200 hectares, no reservoir works but most of them were dams built during the French colonial period and the Republic of Vietnam. But by 2024, the whole province had 78 irrigation systems put into operation, with a total designed irrigation capacity of 76,680 hectares, including 49 reservoir systems, 89 dams, 21 pumping station systems, 188 main sluices; over 5,000 works on canals of all kinds. The total length of the canal system at all levels is more than 4,069 km.

Notably, the total storage capacity of 49 reservoirs is 441.33 million m3, along with the regulation of utilizing the water volume after power generation of Dai Ninh hydropower reservoir through Song Luy reservoir, Ham Thuan - Da Mi hydropower reservoir through Ta Pao dam has basically solved the water source for daily life and production, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the province.

Rise to life

The important large irrigation projects in the province include the Song Quao reservoir system, started in 1986 and completed in 1998, with a useful capacity of 80 million m3 and a design capacity of 8,120 ha. Thanks to the additional source from the 812 - Chau Ta - Song Quao water supply canal, the irrigation capacity has increased to 10,500 ha.

In Bac Binh district, Ca Giay reservoir was started in 1996 and completed in 2011 with a total investment of over 115 billion VND. The project provides irrigation water for 3,965 hectares of cultivated land in Bac Binh district. In addition, thanks to the additional water source discharged after Dai Ninh Hydropower Plant (generated in April 2008), the irrigation area of ​​the project has increased to 6,650 hectares with 3 crops, more than 2 times higher than the original design.

Or Long Song reservoir, which started construction in October 2008 and was completed in 2012, with a useful capacity of 37 million m3, irrigates 4,260 hectares of cultivated land in Tuy Phong district, and provides domestic water for 53,300 people. It is currently irrigating about 3,400 hectares/2 crops.

In the south of the province, Song Mong Lake was started in 2008, with a design capacity to irrigate 4,670 hectares; supplying water to the Song Mong - Du Du - Tan Lap water transfer canal, together with the water source of Ba Bau Lake, it has served to irrigate 5,450 hectares (including 5,130 hectares of dragon fruit) for Ham Thuan Nam district and ensured a source of raw water for daily life for the people.

It is worth mentioning that in the period 2001-2025, Binh Thuan irrigation has had 2 major changes, when Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydropower Plant was completed (this project started on May 16, 1997), making the water volume of La Nga River more regulated, and this is the practical basis for the irrigation sector to implement the pumping station system along La Nga River (with nearly 20 pumping stations), creating a leap forward in agricultural production for the Duc Linh - Tanh Linh region. Then, in April 2010, the Ta Pao irrigation system project was started by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project has the capacity to design 20,340 hectares of irrigation for both Duc Linh and Tanh Linh districts, currently the main part of the South main canal system and the North main canal have been completed, and are irrigating 13,700 hectares...

Regarding multi-purpose service, the Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has drafted a report on the multi-purpose exploitation and development plan of irrigation works in the province. It proposes to develop the potential for aquaculture in 16 irrigation reservoirs with a water surface area of ​​about 2,410.8 hectares. At the same time, develop tourism and services on irrigation reservoirs with a total water surface area of ​​about 1,196.9 hectares; develop small hydropower plants behind the reservoirs and on irrigation canals of 12 works with a total capacity of about 1,023.8 MW...

Proud of the achievements, including the irrigation sector, Binh Thuan Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai Anh in his speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Binh Thuan Province's Liberation Day on the evening of April 19, 2025 mentioned: “Binh Thuan, one of the driest lands in the country. Since its liberation, it has risen strongly with a miracle in irrigation work. Generations of provincial leaders have always been concerned, dedicated, pooled local resources and sought support from the Central Government to invest in developing the irrigation system. Up to now, the whole province has irrigation systems connected to hundreds of lakes, dams, and canals, with a total capacity of 1,138 million m3; basically proactive in irrigation water for agricultural production. The development of the irrigation system has helped agricultural production to flourish, and farmers' lives have been significantly improved. Many key products of Binh Thuan such as dragon fruit have created a domestic and international agricultural product brand. In addition, the province has made a strong shift from agricultural production to agricultural economic development; forming many forms of cooperation, linking production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products according to the value chain. The province's agriculture is on the path of increasingly modern, sustainable development, with high added value, contributing more effectively to the local economy...

Regarding multi-purpose service, the Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has drafted a report on the multi-purpose exploitation and development plan of irrigation works in the province. It proposes to develop the potential for aquaculture in 16 irrigation reservoirs with a water surface area of ​​about 2,410.8 hectares. At the same time, develop tourism and services on 17 irrigation reservoirs with a total water surface area of ​​about 1,196.9 hectares; develop small hydropower plants behind the reservoirs and on irrigation canals of 12 works with a total capacity of about 1,023.8 MW...

Proud of the achievements, including the irrigation sector, Binh Thuan Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hoai Anh in his speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Binh Thuan Province's Liberation Day on the evening of April 19, 2025 mentioned: “Binh Thuan, one of the driest lands in the country. Since its liberation, it has risen strongly with a miracle in irrigation work. Generations of provincial leaders have always been concerned, dedicated, focused on local resources and sought support from the Central Government to invest in developing the irrigation system. Up to now, the whole province has irrigation systems connected to hundreds of lakes, dams, and canals, with a total capacity of 1,138 million ^m3 ; basically proactive in irrigation water for agricultural production. The development of the irrigation system has helped agricultural production to flourish, and farmers' lives have been significantly improved. Many key products of Binh Thuan such as dragon fruit have created a domestic and international agricultural product brand. economy. In addition, the province has made a strong shift from agricultural production to agricultural economic development; forming many forms of cooperation, linking production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products according to the value chain. The province's agriculture is on the path of increasingly modern, sustainable development, with high added value, contributing more effectively to the local economy...