Proactive response to drought

(Chinhphu.vn) - Forecasts of upcoming heatwaves highlight the urgent need for proactive water resource management for production and daily life. This situation could become complicated, especially in drought-prone areas such as the Northwest, Central Highlands, South Central, and Mekong Delta.

The drought is predicted to last until early May 2025.

Widespread hot and dry weather.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, from April to July 2025, hot and dry conditions are likely to occur in many areas, especially in the Northwest region (Dien Bien, Son La, Lai Chau), provinces from Phu Yen to Binh Thuan, and the Central Highlands (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak ).

In the Central Highlands, the Department of Irrigation Construction Management ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) forecasts drought and water shortages will affect the area from now until the end of the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring crop season, impacting approximately 500-1,000 hectares, concentrated in Gia Lai (100-400 ha), Dak Lak (200-300 ha), and Dak Nong (200-300 ha). These areas are mostly outside the irrigation system, exacerbating the risk of water scarcity. The drought is predicted to last until early May 2025.

The water levels in irrigation reservoirs in the Central Highlands are currently the lowest in the country, reaching only 36% of their designed capacity, with Kon Tum at 39%, Gia Lai 30%, Dak Lak 33%, Dak Nong 45%, and Lam Dong 67%. The entire region currently has 52 reservoirs that are running low on water, including 11 in Kon Tum, 21 in Dak Lak, and 20 in Dak Nong. Meanwhile, in the South Central region, the average reservoir capacity is 77%, while in the North and North Central regions it is 53.2% and 62% respectively. The Southeast region has a more favorable reservoir capacity, reaching 60.7%, 12.9% higher than the multi-year average.

In Gia Lai, drought has affected 269 hectares of rice, accounting for 1.1% of the province's total rice area, concentrated in the districts of Dak Doa, Chu Se, and Kbang. These are areas outside the irrigation system's coverage, which had already advised against production during the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring crop season due to water shortages. In other localities in the Central Highlands, no significant damage has been recorded yet, but the risk of drought remains if the hot weather persists.

In Nghe An province, hot weather is forecast to intensify from April and peak in May-July 2025. Given the water levels in reservoirs, rivers, streams, and key infrastructure, the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion could occur in highland areas, downstream of canals, and at the end of the system, affecting an area of ​​over 2,900 hectares. Meanwhile, in the Mekong Delta, saltwater intrusion has passed its peak, and forecasts indicate that from now until the end of April 2025, the flow from the upper reaches of the Mekong River will increase significantly, helping to reduce salinity. Areas within 30-40 km of the coast will have a consistent supply of freshwater, creating favorable conditions for irrigation systems to draw water, especially during low tides.

In response to the drought, localities across the country have implemented various measures to manage water resources, ensuring supply for production and daily life. In the Central Highlands, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Department of Crop Production and the Department of Plant Protection, said that the departments have requested provinces to closely monitor agricultural production and implement measures to minimize damage caused by drought, especially to perennial industrial crops. Technical solutions for drought prevention, such as water-saving irrigation and adjusting crop structure, are also encouraged for widespread application.

In Binh Thuan province, although water levels in reservoirs remain high (180/360 million m³, reaching 50% of designed capacity), the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has requested the Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited to closely monitor weather developments and update water situation information for localities to develop drought and saltwater intrusion prevention plans. Current water conditions in the Ham Thuan and Dai Ninh irrigation and hydropower reservoirs ensure sufficient water supply for domestic use until the end of June 2025 and for the summer-autumn crop production as well as aquaculture.

In Nghe An, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has developed a plan to combat drought and ensure rational irrigation, including repairing embankments, dredging canals, and applying water-saving irrigation techniques from the beginning of the season. In the Mekong Delta, the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction has requested provinces to strengthen the operation of irrigation works to draw in freshwater, store water for production and daily life, and take advantage of the reduced saline intrusion period.

Alongside the above solutions, the Mekong Delta is also implementing the Project for Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation linked to green growth by 2030. This project not only focuses on improving rice quality but also emphasizes water resource management and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to Dr. Bui Ba Bong, Chairman of the Vietnam Rice Industry Association, to achieve the "low emission" goal, the government needs to invest in inland irrigation systems, apply alternating wet-dry irrigation techniques, and use digital technology for automated irrigation. These solutions not only help reduce production costs but also ensure a sustainable water supply for rice production, while minimizing the impact of drought and saltwater intrusion.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chu-dong-ung-pho-voi-han-han-102250424172201648.htm