A shrimp farm in Ca Mau is abandoned due to saltwater intrusion (Photo: VNA)
Ca Mau (VNA) – More than 6,000 households in the southernmost province of Ca Mau is facing a severe shortage of water due to the prolonged drought.
The water shortage has affected 10,000 hectares of rice and 7,000 hectares of crops and fruit trees, of which up to 3,000 hectares of crops suffered a complete loss. Around 35,000 hectares out of 45,000 hectares of cajuput forest have also dried up.
To deal with the situation, local authorities have made the best use of irrigation facilities in communes, established volunteer groups to bring water to localities and encouraged locals to use water effectively.
At the same time, all canals in the U Minh Ha cajuput forest have been dredged to make way for water in case of fires.
As of April 13, 2016, more than 390,000 households in the Central Highlands, Mekong Delta, and south central region faced water shortages.
Drought and saltwater intrusion damaged over 232,000 ha of rice, 61,992 ha of fruit and 4,052 ha of aquaculture. The total economic loss was estimated at over 5.1 trillion VND (229.5 million USD).-VNA
