Tay Ninh soldiers help harvest flooded rice in Dong Thap Muoi

Soldiers from the Tay Ninh provincial armed forces have joined local residents in the Dong Thap Muoi region to race against rising floodwaters threatening rice crops. Over 10 hectares of rice in Vinh Thanh commune were submerged, forcing an early harvest.

Water levels have begun to rise in the Dong Thap Muoi region, though current levels are lower than in previous years and do not pose a widespread threat to agriculture in Tay Ninh province. However, in Vinh Thanh commune, rapid flooding on August 16 submerged approximately 10 hectares of rice fields, leaving only the grain heads visible above the water.

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About 5 days ago the field was still dry. Then the water came very quickly, submerging almost all the rice. For 2 days, I had to run around looking for labor but no one accepted the job.

One farmer, Do Minh Hieu, who invested around 300 million dong in cultivating 10 hectares, described the water's rapid rise over five days, submerging his crop. He struggled to find labor for an early harvest. In response to the farmers' plight, the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command dispatched over 100 soldiers from the 738th Regiment to assist with the harvest. The soldiers are working alongside local authorities to help residents cut and transport the rice to shore.

Major Nguyen Van Tri, commander of the 738th Regiment, stated that his troops are working with urgency to harvest as much rice as possible to minimize losses for the local community. As of August 17, water levels at various monitoring stations in the region remained low compared to the plan. The province has cultivated over 575,000 hectares of rice, with a significant portion harvested, but the recent flooding presents a challenge for the remaining crops.

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Cadres and soldiers are determined to work as urgently as possible, trying to harvest as much rice as possible, contributing to reducing losses for the people.