Kon Tum (VNA) – Kon Tum declared drought emergency level 1 on March 16, becoming the second Central Hi꧟g♈hlands province after Gia Lai to make the announcement.
On the same day, the provincial People’s Committee ordered its cities and districts to promptly undertake drought preventive measures that involve both local authorities and people to minimise economic losses.
The province has zoned off drought-hit areas and asked its local authorities, without delay, to dredge canals as well as save the water supply for farming at these areas.
Farmers have been supported in pumping water into their farmlands during key stages of the crops while preferential policies have been adopted to help farming production in drought-affected areas return to normal.
As of March 16, drought has affected approximately 1,200 hectares of crops in the province, including more than 700 hectares of winter-autumn rice and 400 hectares of coffee.
Over 3,700 wells used daily by local people, especially in Ia H’Drai, Dak To and Sa Thay districts and Kon Tum city, alongside 400 lakes and dams for irrigation have dried up.
Kon Tum has been provided with 17.6 billion VND in state funding and 2 billion VND from the Central Highlands Steering Committee and the Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to cope with the severe drought.-VNA
Development partners and sponsors have recommended measures to cope with the acute drought and saltwater intrusion in the central, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions of Vietnam.
The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long has determined to invest over 4.4 billion VND (197,380 USD) in upgrading 10 water supply stations and expanding pipe networks in rural communes.
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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong ordered taking prompt and drastic actions to fight drought and saline intrusion while visiting the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on March 16.
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According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
