Implement comprehensive solutions to respond to drought.

With increasingly extreme weather conditions, especially the intense heatwaves leading to the risk of drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, the province is implementing many proactive measures to minimize damage caused by drought. In an interview with reporters from Khanh Hoa Newspaper and Radio and Television about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said:

Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang.

Khanh Hoa province has a diverse system of irrigation works that plays a particularly important role in socio-economic development, especially in agricultural production and domestic water supply. Currently, the province has 56 irrigation reservoirs with a total capacity of approximately 830 million ^m³ , about 230 diversion dams, nearly 100 pumping stations, more than 4,400 km of canals and ditches, and hundreds of kilometers of water pipelines. Many large reservoirs such as Song Cai, Song Cho 1, Song Than, Da Ban, Song Sat... are serving as a "lifeline" for many production areas and residential areas.

However, a characteristic of the Khanh Hoa irrigation system is that most of the structures are located in mountainous and hilly areas with steep terrain and small, short river basins, thus limiting their natural regulation capacity. Water resources depend mainly on seasonal rainfall and the storage capacity of reservoirs. Another difficulty is that many structures were built a long time ago and have shown signs of deterioration, sedimentation, seepage, and erosion of dam slopes. In the context of increasingly extreme weather, the pressure to ensure the safety of the structures and water security is growing ever greater.

- In your opinion, how do the natural characteristics and climate of Khanh Hoa affect the risk of drought and water shortage?

- Khanh Hoa is one of the localities significantly affected by the arid climate of the South Central region. A prominent feature is the uneven distribution of rainfall both in time and space. The rainy season is usually concentrated in the last few months of the year, with frequent heavy rains causing rapid flooding. The dry season lasts from the beginning of the year until around August, with intense heat, a sharp decrease in water levels in rivers and streams, and localized water shortages in many areas.

Furthermore, the province's topography is predominantly hilly and mountainous, with short and steep river systems, resulting in low natural water storage capacity; most rainwater drains quickly into the sea. In particular, the southern part of the province frequently suffers from drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, and is considered one of the driest regions in the country.

Besides natural factors, the demand for water in the province is currently increasing rapidly, not only to serve agricultural production but also to meet the needs of urban development, tourism, industry, and key economic zones. This puts increasing pressure on water resources.

Notably, climate change is making weather patterns more extreme and unpredictable. Rainfall tends to be concentrated in short periods but with high intensity, while the dry season is longer and temperatures are rising. These factors make the risk of drought and water shortage in the province increasingly evident; at the same time, they highlight the urgent need for effective management, regulation, and utilization of water resources.

- With the risk of drought and water shortage in 2026, what urgent solutions is the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment implementing?

- The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment is focusing on implementing a comprehensive set of urgent solutions, with the highest priority being ensuring access to clean water for the people.

The immediate solution remains to closely monitor weather developments and water levels in reservoirs to regulate and distribute water appropriately. Simultaneously, irrigation units are being directed to coordinate with local authorities to develop specific water supply plans for each area and time period, operating efficiently and conserving water as much as possible during the dry season. Dredging canals, clearing waterways, and preventing water loss are also being urgently implemented. Areas at high risk of water shortages will be considered for inter-regional water reallocation if necessary.

In agricultural production, the sector encourages the restructuring of crop patterns to suit water availability, reducing the area of ​​water-intensive crops in regions at high risk of water scarcity. Simultaneously, it promotes the application of water-saving irrigation models, drip irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation to improve water efficiency. Alongside this, it strengthens public awareness campaigns to encourage people to use water more efficiently and economically in daily life and production, in order to proactively respond to potentially complex drought situations in the future.

- In the long term, what solutions will the province implement to be more proactive in dealing with drought and water shortages?

- In the long term, the province has determined that it must implement a comprehensive set of both structural and non-structural solutions to proactively adapt to the increasing drought and water shortage.

Regarding engineering solutions, the province will continue to invest in upgrading and repairing dilapidated reservoirs; completing the canal system and water regulation works; and increasing the capacity to connect and transfer water resources between areas. Several large-scale projects currently underway or under consideration will contribute to improving the province's water storage and distribution capacity. Simultaneously, the province is also considering solutions for interconnecting water resources between irrigation systems to proactively support drought-prone areas. Furthermore, protecting upstream forests is crucial, as this is a vital factor in water retention, replenishing water sources, and limiting erosion and depletion of natural water resources.

Regarding non-structural solutions, the province is aiming for water resource management based on river basins, applying digital technology in monitoring, supervising, and operating water reservoirs, and building a synchronized water resource database to serve more effective management. In addition, the province will strengthen control over groundwater exploitation, protect water sources and river and stream corridors to ensure sustainable water security in the long term.

In responding to drought and water shortages, The people play a crucial role because, no matter how comprehensively the irrigation infrastructure is invested in, if water use is not economical and efficient, it will be difficult to ensure long-term water security. Currently, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with localities to promote awareness and guide people to change their water usage habits, apply water-saving production models, and adapt to arid climate conditions. In fact, in recent times, many farmers in the province have proactively applied water-saving irrigation and switched to crops suitable for the available water resources. These are effective models that need to be further replicated to improve the ability to adapt to drought in the future.

Thank you, sir!

OFFICIAL DECISION (Implementation)

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202605/trien-khai-dong-bo-cac-giai-phap-ung-pho-kho-han-e5001fb/