Drought has damaged crops and cost the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak over VND93 billion ($4.4 million), said Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Trang Quang Thanh on April 1. The heat has depleted more than 5,500 hectares of crops, including 4,000 hectares of winter-spring rice and the remaining, vegetables and maize. The districts of M’Drak, Ea Kar, Krong Ana are among the hardest-hit. In Krong Bong district, over 1,300 ethnic households have not had enough clean water as reservoirs and wells are bone dry. Thanh said this condition will prolong until May, 10-15 days later than usual. The provincial authorities have directed localities to help ethnic groups dig more wells and buy pipelines to bring water from lakes to farming areas, using their own emergency funds. Krong Bong district was also asked to supply clean water to the locals and re-check irrigational works. (Vietnam News April 3)
