Residents in the central and central highlands provinces are still waiting for rains by last two months of this year. They have really suffered prolonged drought, extreme water shortage and salt water influx in agricultural production and daily life since the beginning of this year. This is main topic for discussion during the online meeting featuring the solutions to deal with climate change on October 31.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai chaired the online meeting.
At the meeting, Deputy Standing Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak Y Dham Enuol reported “Most of major agricultural products in the province include coffee, rubber, pepper, cashew and cacao trees. However, the weather becomes hotter in dry season therefore local farmers have constantly faced water shortage as well as drought during past months.
Local farmers are waiting for rains from typhoons in the upcoming time to improve irrigation water for crops.
Coffee trees are threatened because of water shortage.(Photo: SGGP)
Director of the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong said that the changeable weather has occurred from December, 2015 until now. Particular, in the southern and Central Highlands region, rainy season ended in October. In the central region, rainfall as well as water level at hydroelectric reservoirs, local streams and rivers reduced 30- 50 percents while water level in the area of the Central Highlands and the southern region lacked off approximately 20- 40 percents compared to the same period last year.
On going salt water influx hit the southern provinces such as Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau and Ben Tre.
1- 2 typhoons are predicted to enter East Sea, and it is expected to land in the central region of Vietnam to solve the weather condition as now, added Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong.
Answering with reporter of Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper, Deputy Director of the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center Le Thanh Hai announced: “Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Khanh Hoa are three provinces affected seriously by drought”.
Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said: “Not only Vietnam but also countries in the Southeast Asia have faced serious water shortage such as Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. In the latest meeting by Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, the delegates conducted solutions to overcome difficulties, promote winter-spring rice harvest in the period of 2015- 2016.
According to weather forecast, the temperature nationwide will increase at 0, 5- 1, 5 degrees Celsius from October, 2015 to April, 2016.
In next months, the northern region will experience damage colds. Rainfall in the region will also rise higher compared to the same period of previous years.
On the other hand, the central region is going to lack off 30- 50 percents rainfall; rainfall in the Central Highlands and the southern region will reduce 20- 40 percents.
Dealing with the changeable weather, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai asked local authorities to collaborate closely with relevant ministries, department and agencies to encourage residents to save water sources in plant and life.
