Cultivated on the wetlands regained from the sea

From a mangrove area, many times eroded by high tide, after 10 years of planting mangroves to improve soil, people in Vinh Hai commune, Vinh Chau district, Soc Trang province were able to cultivate onion fields. fat.

Photograph of the land near the sea of ​​Vinh Hai commune 10 years ago. "As an area near the sea, every year, when there is a high tide, the land is eroded, heavy salinity cannot be cultivated. In a great tide, two schools and many houses have been swept away. Sea, " said Thach Xoan, a resident here.

Supported by the International Nature Conservancy, the German Development Cooperation Agency, people and local authorities have joined hands to improve and protect the land. T-shaped wave break fences are established simultaneously with the planting of mangroves to prevent waves. "With this fence, when the waves hit and carry silt, the T-shielded goods will help to keep the silt, while the gaps between the two T will make it easier to drain ," said Hoang Dinh Quoc Vu - Can Department of Agriculture of Vinh Chau District said.

Nearly 45km of coastline along 7 communes of Vinh Chau district is covered with mangrove forests. Recognizing the important role of people in planting and protecting forests, since 2009, the Vinh Chau District Agriculture Department has allocated land and forests to "co-management" relatives.Since the establishment of the forest, there is a barrier to wave the more fertile coastal fields.

After many years of renovation, people began to cultivate and rest assured to build houses on the land of ancient salinity.At the age of 85, Nam Thi Pia still went with her children to the onion field.Being a long-term attachment to this land, he said before when there was no forest, people in this area mainly engaged in fishing, no-meal meal and constant flooding every year.

Until now, Vinh Hai commune has about 6,000 hectares of onion cultivation, this is the main source of income of the people.

In order to have irrigation water for the onions, a series of pump systems are installed throughout the field by relatives.

Automatic water tanks are also "made" everywhere.Not only can land and water be kept in Vinh Hai commune, but also significantly improved.From the source of water contaminated with alum and salt, people have been able to drill water for irrigation and daily use.

These good green onion beds will be harvested on the occasion of Tet Giap Ngo.Mr. Vu said that now every kilogram of onion costs about 20,000 VND.Vinh Chau district is the district with the largest onion cultivation area in Soc Trang province with about 100-120,000 hectares.

Only 300m from the coast, people on this side are eager to cultivate on fertile land.

On the other side, the mangrove forest is becoming more and more green to join the people in the "land grabbing" war with the sea.