A heavy downpour in many areas of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on March 6 has proved to be a boon for the parched paddy crop, coffee trees and vegetables.

     The rain has saved the rice crop and raised the water table for residents in Ngoc Hoi, Dac Ha and Kon Ray communes in Kon Tum City and greatly reduced the risk of forest fires in the province.

     The Kon Tum Province Sub-Department of Irrigation and Flood-Storm Prevention had reported that up to now, there are more than 1,300 hectares of standing crops facing drought conditions, of which 700 hectares are rice crops and 600 hectares is vegetable area. They assess the damage caused by drought at nearly VND63 billion (US$3 million) for the winter-spring crop.

     Gia Lai Province also received rain yesterday, helping the parched coffee plantation. The dry season has only just begun and drought conditions are already prevailing in the Central Highlands where thousands of hectares of crops were suffering from shortage of irrigation water.

     Since the start of the dry season, Sa Thay District in Kon Tum Province had initiated the dredging of canals and repair of irrigation works. However, they seem to be unable to cope with the present drought      conditions. Nearly 100 hectares of rice fields are lying vacant or abandoned or being cultivated with fast growing resistible and sturdy plants.

     Similar conditions also occur in Chu Prong, Chu Pah and Chu Puh districts of Gia Lai Province and also in Pleiku town. (Source: saigon-gpdaily.com.vn)