Up to 60,000 hectares of coffee in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong are vulnerable to lost productivity due to the impacts of prolonged drought, said the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The devastating drought has posed risks to agricultural production in the region. Bao Lam district was unable to provide enough water for 16,500 hectares of industrial crops, mainly coffee and tea in March and 200 hectares of coffee in Dam Rong district withered due to water shortages.

According to the latest survey conducted by the provincial Bureau of Water Resource Management, water levels in local reservoirs have been 1 metre lower than the same period last year.

The situation has affected over 1,500 hectares of crops in the province, leading to 30-40 percent drops in productivity from the previous season.

The acute drought is forecast to continue in Don Duong, Duc Trong, Lam Ha and Di Linh districts.

The provincial People’s Committee has urged relevant agencies to take measures to counteract the drought, focusing on upgrading irrigation, dredging ponds and reservoirs and freeing the flow of streams to make full use of water resources.-VNA