The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is prioritising fund allocations for major irrigation projects in Central Highlands provinces to increase water supply for agriculture amid severe drought.

Thousands of hectares of coffee plant were destroyed due to prolonged drought. Source: tainguyen&moitruong

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan, the ministry has invested 3.5 trillion VND to construct the Ia Mo irrigation system in Gia Lai province and the Krong Pak Thuong Reservoir in Dak Lak province.

It has proposed the building of a number of key irrigation projects between 2016 and 2020 with an estimated investment of 7.4 trillion VND to be funded by government bonds.

The focus will be given to Krong H’Nang and Ea H’Leo reservoirs in Dak Lak, Ia Thul Reservoir in Gia Lai, and Da Si and Ia H’drai irrigation systems in Lam Dong and Kon Tum, respectively.

About 3.8 trillion VND funded by ODA and WB8 will also be distributed to projects that improve water use efficiency in drought-hit provinces during the period.

The government has developed more than 2,700 irrigation projects across the Central Highlands including Ia Mla irrigation system in Gia Lai, Ka La and Dak Klong Thuong reservoirs in Lam Dong, and Ea Sup Thuong and Krong Buk Ha reservoirs in Dak Lak.

Source: VNA