Mundok County in South Phyongan Province has put the irrigation system on an IT basis.

According to Ri Song Min, section chief of the agricultural informatization institute under the Academy of Agricultural Science, many officials across the country are filled with confidence as they witness Mundok County where the informatization of the irrigation system has been translated into reality and make up their mind to carry out such projects as early as possible.

Last year, the county pushed the work for sprucing up its irrigation management station in a big way.

While smartening up the station, the county officials set the goal of turning the station into the one that is excellent both inside and outside by renovating its building and putting the irrigation system on an IT basis and consolidating the foundations for doing farming in a safe way under any unfavourable conditions.

The county authorities paid close attention to all issues, including the provision of good working conditions for scientists and the supply of equipment and materials needed for establishing a new water control system, and solved problems in time.

This resulted in the establishment of the water control system using the water control and command support program “Surihwa (irrigation)”.

The system is based on electronic maps showing the locations and characteristics of water source and irrigation facilities in the county, including waterways, rivers, reservoirs, pumping stations, drainage lock gates and major observation posts, and ensures scientific water control.

It has lots of advantages.

Above all, the system ensures efficient water control by overcoming the impediment to farming caused by a surplus-induced waste and lack of water in the rice-transplanting season, thereby reducing the consumption of water on farms as much as possible.

In particular, it makes it possible to immediately grasp the data on the present situation such as the water level and the amount of water supply at drainage posts in the rainy season and take appropriate measures in consideration of the tidal conditions in conformity with the characteristics of the county bordering the sea, thus minimizing damage from disastrous abnormal climate.

In addition, the directives issued by the county agricultural management committee can be delivered simultaneously to the lower echelons to ensure promptness in water control and command.

Consequently, the system makes it possible to control water scientifically while taking in sight the whole of waterway spanning several hundred ri in the county.

The informatization of the irrigation system constitutes another big step forward towards putting the county’s farming on a scientific footing.