The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the National Assembly to allocate some VND100trn (USD4.5bn) to build an irrigation system to cope with the serious on-going drought and potential future problems.

Rice dying due to serious drought in the central region

In the report about drought, salt water intrusion and mitigation measures that have been implemented since late 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that due to the surprisingly strong effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon, the temperature had increased sharply and there has been less rainfall.

Across the country, especially in the southern central region, Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta, people's lives have been particularly badly affected.

Agricultural activities across some 23,000 hectares of land in the southern central region have been halted and over 30,000 households are in need of clean water.

It is forecasted that the summer-fall crops will be affected and the area of land that cannot be cultivated will increase to 47,000 hectares.

In the Central Highlands, 36,000 households face clean water shortages.

Meanwhile in the Mekong Delta, 210,000 hectares of fruit trees have been damaged, 250,000 households along with many schools, hospitals and hotels are lacking water.

The ministry has proposed reducing the area of cultivated land in regions that are prone to drought and saltwater intrusion.

In terms of long-term solutions, the National Assembly will allocate over VND51.8trn via government bonds for inter-provincial irrigation system investment during 2017-2020 period.

Another VND45.3trn will be used for anti-drought and salt water intrusion projects in south central regions, Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.

About VND3.7trn is needed for key projects that need to be completed by the end of the year.

Dtinews