From now until 2020, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak plans to invest VND15.31 trillion to upgrade and build 353 irrigation works, the provincial People’s Committee has reported.

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The investment in irrigation works aims to ensure a sustainable source of water for the coffee plantations in the area, contributing to lower the price of coffee and increasing the quality and competitiveness of the trademark “Buon Me Thuot Coffee” in both domestic and international markets.

The investment should also help to increase the areas overall production capacity by providing irrigation to nearly 74,250 hectarese.

There are nearly 204,500 hectares of coffee plantation in Dak Lak province which produces some 460,000 tons or more. Of the coffee each year, 90% of which is for export, accounting for 89% of export turnover in the province.

Furthermore, the coffee sector contributes over 40% of the province’s GDP annually and creates stable jobs for over 300,000 direct labourers and some 100,000 indirect labourers.

However, so far, only 25% of the coffee area in the province has had the benefit of planned irrigation, receiving their water from wells, rivers and streams which has a negative affect on the underground water levels./.

( Compiled by VNF )