Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company: Heading to Diversified Use of Water Sources

Binh Dinh Single Member Irrigation Exploitation Limited Company, previously the Kon River Department of Irrigation Management, was established in 1975 with the main task of managing irrigation in the Kon River system (the southern area of Binh Dinh province) with irrigation area of only 7,000-8,000 hectares per year due to the lack of water. In 1999, thanks to the attention of authorities of all levels and the efforts of the company itself, the company expanded its operation throughout the province with seven distribution points, five of which public interest operating in Hoai An, Hoai Nhon and Van Canh districts, Quy Nhon city with the irrigation area of about 50,000 hectares per year. At the time of establishment, there were only 15 employees. In 2000, this number increased to 250, working in seven locations.

The company has been building many large reservoirs such as Ho Nui 1, Hoai Son and Thuan Ninh reservoirs. Besides building reservoirs, Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company also builds 24 large dams in the four river systems in Binh Dinh province, which are La Vinh, Lai Giang, Song Kon and Thach Han, to supply irrigation water to key rice producing areas of the province such as Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, and Phu Cat.

 

In nearly 40 years of operation, the company has developed greatly. Recently, the supply water source managed by the company has reached 500 million cubic metres. Basically, this water supply addresses the water needed for agriculture in the southern area of Binh Dinh province. At the present, the annual revenue of the company reaches VND36 billion.

 

In previous years, due to limited source of water, Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company only used water for agriculture. However, recently, Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company has overcome the water shortage and is now supplying water for not only agriculture but also industrial and daily life activities, environmental improvement and aquaculture, meeting the goal of diversifying water use.

 

Mr Nguyen Van Phu, Director of Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company shared that the biggest challenge to the company at this time is the huge impact of climate change on irrigation projects. Specifically, global warming and the El Nino effect create abnormal weather phenomena that exert major impact on the irrigation and water supply system. Besides, 24 dams of Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company are no longer suitable structures in the current circumstance, mostly built a long time ago, while the upgrade cost is beyond the company’s capability. In addition, the deforestation of watershed and forests causes huge water flows in rainy season, with a damaging impact on irrigation projects.

 

Four in the 24 dams of the company have recently been upgraded. Binh Dinh Irrigation Exploitation Company has proposed that authorities raise ODA to invest in upgrading the old dams.