Faced with this reality, the local Party Committee, authorities, and people have implemented many proactive solutions to ensure irrigation water, maintain production, and minimize damage to crops.

With more than 5 hectares of winter melon currently in the fruiting stage, the family of Nguyễn Xuân Tình in Nậm Kè village uses a drip irrigation system to maintain moisture for the plants under water-scarce conditions. Thanks to this method, water is distributed evenly to each root, limiting loss compared to the previous flood irrigation method and helping the plants grow more steadily.

Nguyễn Xuân Tình shared that the old way was very water-intensive and ineffective, especially when the water supply is low. While the initial investment for drip irrigation is more expensive, the amount of water used has decreased significantly, and the labor required for care is reduced because there is no need to manually pull water as before. He emphasized that in the face of erratic weather, changing irrigation methods is necessary to adapt, especially for high-economic-value crops like winter melon.

In Phiêng Vai village, although the production areas of households are near streams, the prolonged heat has caused water levels to drop rapidly, making it difficult to lead water to the fields. Many sections of the streams have run dry, failing to provide enough for the entire cultivated area, which has forced residents to share water during specific time slots or prioritize areas currently in need of water.

Lò Văn Nguyễn, head of Phiêng Vai village, noted that while water was relatively stable in previous years, the volume has recently decreased sharply. Consequently, the villagers often work together to dredge and clear water canals to maximize the source from the upstream to the fields. Some households have proactively built embankments to retain water or used plastic pipes to lead water from small ravines to supplement water-deficient areas.

Nậm Kè commune currently has more than 20 hectares of winter-spring crops, including staples like corn, rice, peanuts, and winter melon, which are vital for the income of many local households. To overcome the water shortage, the commune party committee and government have flexibly implemented solutions such as mobilizing residents to make the most of existing water sources and proactively regulating usage by area and time. They have organized the temporary repair and reinforcement of small canals and cleared flows to limit water loss during transport to the fields.

Besides immediate solutions, the commune encourages residents to flexibly transition crop structures in areas where water sources are difficult to guarantee. Some areas that previously produced wet rice have been switched to corn or other short-term crops suitable for the actual conditions.

Lý Văn Xuân, Vice Head of the Nậm Kè Economic Department, stated that ensuring water for production is a particularly important and long-term task. Therefore, the commune continues to review the entire irrigation system to propose investment and upgrades, especially for small and scattered works. At the same time, they are strengthening communication to guide residents in applying appropriate farming measures, using water sparingly, and raising awareness about protecting water sources.