Directive No. 61/2004/CT-BNN on intensifying drought prevention efforts to ensure winter-spring and summer-autumn crop production in 2005

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the acceleration of drought prevention efforts to ensure winter-spring and summer-autumn crop production in 2005

In 2004, in the Northern region, Central Highlands, and Southern region, rainfall was low and the rainy season ended early; in the Central region, although it is currently in the rainy season, the total rainfall has been very small. The average rainfall for the first ten months of the year was about 30% lower than the long-term average, and during the rainy season, it was approximately 40% lower than the long-term average. The flow volume in rivers and streams is all below the long-term average and is rapidly decreasing. Water storage in reservoirs only reaches 60-70% of their designed capacity, with some reservoirs below 50%, even reaching dead water levels. According to forecasts, rainfall and river flow volumes during the 2004-2005 winter-spring season across the country will be lower than the long-term average, while the demand for water from various economic sectors and the environment continues to increase. The current drought situation is ongoing and may persist widely, severely impacting the 2004-2005 winter-spring and 2005 summer-autumn crop production and people's livelihoods.

To proactively prevent and combat drought, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to focus on implementing the following urgent tasks:

1. Strengthening the Drought Prevention Steering Committee at all levels to have plans and sufficient effectiveness in managing drought prevention activities effectively.

2. Evaluating and balancing the actual water resources in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, stored water in irrigation works, and underground water sources in each region and area within the locality to proactively organize production structures and seasons; strictly manage water resources, prevent water leakage and loss from reservoirs. Reservoirs under construction should also store water against drought if they meet safety conditions; use water efficiently. Prioritize balancing water resources for domestic use and animal husbandry.

3. Organizing waterworks to dredge channels, canals, and water inlet gates to ensure water supply to fields, especially internal field channels.

4. Directing the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Irrigation Works Companies to strictly implement drought prevention plans, supplement mobile pumping stations, regularly maintain machinery, repair works, address any malfunctions; organize field inspections, schedule specific irrigation times; strictly and flexibly manage water distribution; organize rotational and efficient water use; closely monitor water resources, salinity intrusion, and drought conditions inside and outside irrigation works systems, and proactively handle situations to serve production and people's livelihoods well.

5. In areas where water resources cannot be balanced throughout the season, implement changes in crop structure; plant drought-resistant crops that require less water to ensure production efficiency.

6. Implement measures to ensure domestic water supply, particularly paying attention to highland, remote, and coastal areas. Firmly prevent situations where domestic water supply shortages affect people's lives.

7. Allocate funds from local economic development budgets and annual financial reserves to repair and maintain irrigation works and implement drought prevention measures.

8. Utilize mass media to promote, mobilize, and guide the public to implement drought prevention measures. Commend and encourage localities and organizations that take proactive initiatives and innovative measures against drought with significant results.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall advise the Provincial People's Committee in directing and urging relevant agencies and units to implement measures to ensure water supply, proactively carry out drought prevention work, and regularly report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Water Resources Bureau shall coordinate with Vietnam Electricity Corporation, National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and related units to monitor and compile weather trends, water resource conditions, drought, and the operation of irrigation works to serve production, promptly direct, inspect, urge localities to effectively implement drought prevention measures, and the Agricultural Bureau, functional Bureaus, and Departments under the Ministry shall cooperate with the Water Resources Bureau to assist the Ministry in guiding and resolving difficulties for localities to effectively implement drought prevention work, ensuring water supply for production and livelihoods during the 2005 winter-spring and summer-autumn seasons.