On the fields of Hua Muong hamlet in Sop Cop commune, residents have headed out early to channel water to their rice paddies to support the tillering stage, a critical period for crop development.

Hoang Van Thu, Party cell secretary and head of Hua Muong, said that in recent years, proactive irrigation efforts have secured stable water supplies from canals, helping ensure the hamlet’s rice planting schedule stays on track.

From early January, immediately after completing the previous rice harvest, the hamlet urged residents to carry out the irrigation work. By early February, locals continued inspecting canals to ensure adequate water supply for cultivation. More than 35 hectares of the spring rice crop have now been transplanted. Inspections show that water from the Nam Ca stream continues to flow into the irrigation canals at ample levels, alleviating concerns about shortages for the paddies.

In Muong Va hamlet, Sop Cop commune, farmers are stepping up the irrigation work. Proactive maintenance of in-field canals is expected to help secure timely water supply for cultivation.

Lo Thi Mai, a resident of Muong Va hamlet, said her family farms more than 3,000 square meters of rice paddies. To facilitate irrigation, locals have dredged canals and reinforced embankments to ensure sufficient water for the spring crop.

Sop Cop commune is home to 80 irrigation facilities, with a combined canal length of 92 kilometres, supplying water to 878 hectares of double-crop rice fields as well as other local needs.

To proactively regulate water for the spring crop, the commune has coordinated with Branch No. 9 of Son La Irrigation Works Management One Member Co., Ltd. to inspect damaged or deteriorating facilities and submit proposals to authorities for maintenance and repairs, ensuring adequate water supply for agricultural production.

Duong Dinh Nghi, Vice Chairman of the Sop Cop commune People’s Committee, said the commune has 405 hectares of spring rice. After each rainy season, irrigation canals are often clogged by sediment, restricting water flow and directly affecting drainage and water supply for local production.

As a result, maintaining and upgrading in-field irrigation systems has been prioritised to secure sufficient water for the upcoming spring crop.

In Sop Cop commune, more than 80% of the planned spring rice area has been planted to date. Taking advantage of favourable post-holiday weather, farmers are carrying out the irrigation work, replanting sparse patches and applying fertilizer to support crop growth. The remaining areas are being transplanted, with completion targeted before March 10 to stay within the seasonal planting window.

From early February, Sop Cop commune set up three task forces to promote and oversee a peak campaign to dredge irrigation canals across the area.

After nearly a month of in-field irrigation work, residents have cleared more than 75 kilometres of canals. Locals have also deployed machinery to accelerate dredging, with mechanisation helping remove long-standing sediment blockages and facilitating timely water intake and rice transplantation in line with the cropping calendar.

The early-year irrigation drive is expected to create favourable conditions for agricultural production, supporting farmers’ production and contributing to the fulfillment of the commune’s broader socio-economic development targets.