The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has decided to give assistance worth VND500 million to each of 8 Mekong River Delta localities and 5 Central Highlands localities which have been affected by drought and salt intrusion. The assistance aims to address water shortages for local residents.

Rice in Go Cong Dong district, Tien Giang province damaged by salt intrusion (Photo: tiengiang.gov.vn)

For the longer term, MONRE will complete the inspection system over water resources; operate large water lakes; instruct localities on how to search for fresh water underground; put in place water reserve constructions to deal with any circumstances; and issue policies encouraging the economical and effective use of water.

The Tra Vinh provincial People’s Committee has decided to earmark VND50.6 billion for providing plantation seeds and fisheries breeding assistance to nearly 43,500 families to resume production in areas that are affected by drought and salt intrusion.

The province has encouraged farmers to change rice plantation in areas that lack water resources to other kinds of crops to adapt to climate change.

On May 4^th, the PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Joint Stock Company assisted farmers in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts with 140 tons of fertilizer, worth over VND2 billion. They are two districts that report the most serious damage caused by drought.

Meanwhile, the Ca Mau provincial People’s Committee has allocated over VND86 billion to support the lives of people.

It has also asked the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to give priority to upgrading and repairing concentrated water supply constructions in remote and extremely disadvantaged regions.

Forecasts show that an additional 3,853 households in 18 communes in 6 districts in the central province of Ninh Thuan will face water shortages. To assist people in dealing with water shortages, the province installed pumping stations to take water from the irrigation system, supported the installation of water tanks, and searched for water resources./.

Compiled by VNF