Minister tours drought-hit Binh Phuoc province

Binh Phuoc (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will consider allocating the World Bank’s loans for the southern province of Binh Phuoc in order to help the locality upgrade its lakes and dams to deal with the ongoing drought, said Minister Cao Duc Phat.

During his field trip to Binh Phuoc on April 23 to examine local agricultural and rural development as well as the severe drought facing the province, the minister stressed the need for the provincial competent agencies to review their planning to use water resources economically.

Phat explained that the drought in the locality is at a serious level, which could affect plant growth in a long term.

The official also hailed the province for their efforts in actualising the Government’s guidelines on drought combat.

By April 20, the water shortage had affected as many as 32,088 households and nearly 28,000 hectares of crops in the province, causing an estimated economic loss of 670 billion VND (30.1 million USD). About 45,600 hectares of forest are now at a high risk of fire.

The provincial leaders have called for an emergency aid of 120 billion VND (5.4 million USD) to cope with the problem.

While in Binh Phuoc, Minister Phat toured Bu Dop district – the hardest hit by the drought in the province, where 5,656 households and 4,600 hectares of trees are struggling with water scarcity.

In Tan Thanh commune alone, the water shortage has affected 342 households and 423 hectares of crops , of which multiple areas of pepper have withered.-VNA