Maximum efforts to save Central Highlands from drought

Dak Lak (VNA) – Authorities from the Central Highlands are exerting every effort to save locals from drought as thousands of lakes, rivers and wells in the region have dried out.

In production, the region has prioritised water for long-term and highly economic commercial crops such as coffee and pepper.

The Central Highlands Steering Committee is asking localities to closely follow weather developments and promptly disburse emergency capital resources to support locals in coping with drought.

Dak Lak province has poured billions of VND into drilling 35 wells in Buon Don and Eo H’Leo districts, as well as install pumps and water containers at communes and schools which seriously lack water.

It has also financially supported poor households to dredge wells for water.

Meanwhile, Gia Lai province has helped locals run water pumping machines, built public water supply facilities at drought-stricken communes, and transported free water to areas where wells could not be dug.

Currently, the Central Highlands has 7,108 hectares of rice and nearly 60,000 hectares of coffee dangerously drying out. Productivity is forecast to be reduced by 30-70 percent.

Dak Lak is the hardest hit with over 21,000 hectares of withering rice and 13,000 households facing water shortages.

If there is no rain in early April, the area of dryed-out crops could reach 167,000 hectares. About 34,000 families in the Central Highlands might soon be faced with a water crisis.-VNA