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Submitted by unname2 on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 10:56
Northern Vietnam may face its worst drought in more than a century, from next January through April, a conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was told on December 8.

Water levels in most of the rivers in northern Vietnam over the past three months have dropped far below the average levels in previous years, said Irrigation Department deputy head Dam Hoa Binh.

The Director of the Central Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre, Bui Minh Tang, said that, agricultural production will be totally dependent on reservoirs in case there is no rain in the region until December 18.

As the drought has already hit the north, the winter-spring crops will need much more water than in previous years (about 20-30 percent) said Phan Huy Thong, deputy head of Cultivation Department.
Although farmers have been warned of water shortages and advised to switch to drought-resistant crops, such as subsidiary crops, no localities are ready for change.

To survive the record drought, the Irrigation Department has already required local authorities to dredge irrigation systems, maintain pumping stations and save water for crops.

VOVNews/VNA

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