The ongoing long lasting drought in the central region has parched vast areas of rice fields, depleted rivers, worsened salt penetration and put thousands of hectares of farm land in danger of being abandoned.
Two large reservoirs in Da Nang City have accumulated only 30-50 percent of water while 11 out of 17 smaller reservoirs have already run out of water. Nearly 800 hectares of agricultural land is in danger of becoming fallowed, affecting hundreds of local households.
Quang Ngai Province fears that 26,000 hectares of farm land, 43,000 people and 39,000 livestock will face serious water shortage.
The severely dry weather since the end of last year has lowered water levels of Bo, Huong, Truoi, Dai Giang and Nhu Y Rivers in Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Ngo Duc Hoi, head of the Irrigation Department in Ha Tinh Province, said about 1,200 hectares of rice fields are dependent on rainwater in Thach Ha and Nghi Xuan Districts. However there has been no heavy rainfall over the last several months.
Salt water has penetrated further inland in Can Loc, Duc Tho, Nghi Xuan and Thach Ha Districts in Ha Tinh Province. About 1,500-2,000 rice cultivable hectares might be hit by drought in the next few months in the mountainous districts of Huong Son, Vu Quang and Huong Khe.
Some areas cannot cultivate the summer-autumn rice crop due to salt penetration in Quang Trach District in Quang Binh Province.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Da Nang Province has instructed local authorities to switch from rice to other short term crops like green beans and peanut or vegetables.
Ha Tinh and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces have dredged canals, upgraded pumping stations and worked with the management boards of irrigation and hydropower works to release a sustainable amount of water for farm production.
