Mekong Delta provinces have taken
measures to counteract drought and salinisation as weather forecasts say that
the region could face shortages of water due to a serious drought early in
2017. According to forecasts from the Central Hydrometeorology Station,
rainfall in the southern region from March to July this year could be lower
than the average rainfall of the last several years. During the dry season of
2016–17, the Mekong River is expected to be 15 to 30 per cent lower than the average
flow of several years, equivalent to the dry season of 2014–15, and a bit
higher than 2015–16. Meanwhile, salinisation could intrude into the region
earlier, lasting longer than intrusion in previous years, but not as serious as
during the drought of the dry season of 2015–16. Mekong provinces began taking
measures to counteract drought and salinisation before the traditional Tết (at
the end of 2016). The agriculture department in Hậu Giang Province has
recommended that farmers in drought-affected areas sow seeds of the winter-spring
rice crop early, and thus be ready to cope with bad weather conditions caused
by climate change. Hậu Giang Province People’s Committee has also announced a
plan to combat drought and salinisation intrusion in the province from late
2016 through 2017. According to forecasts from the provincial authorities, from
28,000ha to 34,000ha of land under the winter-spring and summer-autumn crops in
the districts of Châu Thành, Châu Thành A, and Phụng Hiệp, and Ngã Bảy Town,
and parts of Vị Thuỷ District and Long Mỹ Town will be affected by the drought.
In addition, from 12,000ha to 16,000ha of paddy fields are affected by
salinisation intrusion. In some areas, local residents could suffer shortages
of water for daily activities. Hậu Giang People’s Committee has asked district
authorities to use all facilities and utensils to store fresh water and thus to
ensure enough water for daily activities during the dry season of 2016–17. The
provincial authorities have also checked and mapped out plans to repair
facilities to supply fresh water to residents in drought-affected areas, and
inspect embankment, dyke and pumping systems. They also mapped out plans to
store water in the fields and prevent salt water from intruding into fields to
better protect rice crops. Trần Công Chánh, Secretary of Hậu Giang Province
Party Committee, said Hậu Giang is one of the provinces that has encountered
the most serious consequences of the drought and the salinisation intrusion
last year. He said all measures taken by Hậu Giang residents were aimed at
ensuring rice production and minimising damage that could be caused by the
drought and salinisation. According to figures from Sài Gòn Giải Phóng
(Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper, the Mekong Delta suffered great losses caused by
drought and salinisation in 2016. The region’s farming sector faced damages of
VND4.67 trillion (nearly USD210 million), including damage to 233ha of paddy
fields, vegetables and other crops 6,561ha, and fruit and industrial trees
10,831ha. Nearly 227,000 households in the region faced water shortages.
Viet Nam News p2 – February 6 - http://vietnamnews.vn/society/350615/mekong-set-for-tougher-drought.html#rLjrTg5KWvefBmFK.97
Đăng nhận xét