Reports by the Departments of natural disaster prevention in the central, Central Highlands and southern regions show that as of early April, drought and salt intrusion in these regions have caused losses of over VND3.86 trillion.

Rice damaged by salt intrusion. (Photo: tiengiang.gov.vn)

Accordingly, drought and salt intrusion has left 322,039 families facing water shortages, and damaged 228,014 hectares of rice, 14,328 hectares of other crops, 45,255 hectares of industrial trees, 34,675 hectares of fruits, and 3,031 hectares of fish farms.

The loss has forced 13 localities to declare natural disasters of drought and salt intrusion.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to deal with the natural disaster.

Several billions of VND have been spent digging 35 wells in Buon Don, Ea H’Leo districts in Dak Lak province. The province has also provided water pumping machines and water reservoirs for communes and schools that face serious shortages of water. Assistance has been provided for poor families to dig for water.

Gia Lai province has assisted people with capital to buy fuel to operate water pumps. Concentrated water supply constructions have been built in communes that report serious drought situation. Meanwhile, water reservoirs have been installed in regions where wells cannot be dug.

To deal with drought, Soc Trang province has shifted rice production to vegetable production. As of late March, the province has sown crop seeds and industrial trees across over 30,000 hectares.

To ensure an efficient source of water for agricultural production in case of salt intrusion, Can Tho city has directed localities to improve irrigation works by building the dam system to restore water. The city plans to ask the central budget for VND55.7 billion in assistance to dig 11 canals among fields and build an additional 4 small- and medium-sized water pumping stations.

It has also proposed that the Government provide VND118 billion in assistance to construct concentrated water supply stations in Co Do district and dig 2 canal systems./.

( Compiled by VNF )