Efforts ordered to battle drought

SOC TRANG — Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat has ordered an all out effort to limit salt-water intrusion and the consequences of drought in the Cuu Long (Me kong) Delta.

The order, issued yesterday, will have relevant government agencies and municipal administrators organise labour and provide financial help for farmers in zones where salt-water intrusion and drought is threatening thousands of hectares of crops.

Temporary dams to prevent more salt-water intrusion are to be built together with places for farmers to store fresh water.

The ministry's Crop Production Department, together with local agriculture and rural development departments, will have the responsibility to change crop varieties and allow farmers to grow their spring-summer rice only when enough fresh water is assured.

Forecast

Each locality will have to store and provide enough water for domestic use from now to May when the weather is forecast to be hot and dry.

People in zones seriously affected by salt water will be provided free water and large pots for its storage.

The minister said his ministry's institutes, centres and departments had been assigned to monitor changes in the water levels of the Hau, Vam Co Dong, Vam Co Tay, Tien, Luong and Chien rivers of the Me kong valley.

They were to forecast the likely effects of drought on each locality to enable immediate action.

The ministry's Irrigation Department had been instructed to review plans for irrigation in the Cuu Long (Me kong) Delta to improve its effectiveness.

Rice threat

The ministry estimates that as much as 800,000ha of southern-delta rice could be endangered by the end of the month.

The Southern Water Resources Research Institute reports that water with a salt content of up to 0.4 per cent has now reached 30km inland in Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces.

Cuu Long (Me kong) Delta Provincial officials say that water in canals has evaporated and more money is needed from the ministry to halt the salt-water and the consequences of drought. — VNS