Directive No. 7071/CT-BNN-TCTL on Strengthening Drought Prevention and Saltwater Intrusion Control Measures and Dealing with the Impact of El Niño

DIRECTIVE

Regarding Strengthening Efforts to Prevent and Combat Drought and Salinity Intrusion and to Counter the Impact of El Niño

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According to the report from the Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, the El Niño phenomenon has a probability of occurring in our country during the summer season at approximately 70%, and during the autumn and winter seasons at approximately 80%. The impact period will be from the summer of 2014 until the end of spring in 2015. The effects of El Niño will cause temperatures to rise by about 1.2 to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the average over many years, rainfall will decrease by about 25 to 50% compared to the same period over many years, the rainy season may start later and end earlier, and river flows will tend to decline rapidly after the end of the rainy season.

In reality, since the beginning of 2014, the South Central region has experienced prolonged hot weather, with general rainfall reaching below 50% of the average for the same period over many years, some areas only reaching around 20-30% (Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan); river flows have generally been short by 30-80% compared to the average over many years; water storage reservoirs for irrigation have low capacity, averaging around 30-40% of their designed capacity, many small reservoirs in Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Ninh Thuan provinces have dried up; in the Northern region, some areas have had lower rainfall than the average over many years, some large reservoirs have low water storage capacity compared to the same period. Additionally, most regions across the country did not experience minor floods at the end of May and the beginning of June.

The current weather and climate situation indicates that El Niño has affected the South Central region and there is a risk of it continuing, potentially impacting water supply for the Winter-Spring crop season 2014-2015 in many places nationwide, particularly in the Central region, Southern region, and Central Highlands.

To proactively prevent and combat drought and salinity intrusion and ensure water supply for agricultural production and daily life, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development requests:

1. Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees direct relevant departments and levels within their localities:

a) Develop early plans for water supply to serve the Winter-Spring crop season 2014-2015, taking into account measures for water supply for production and living in cases where water sources are insufficient;

b) Based on the balance of water resources, arrange crop structures reasonably; in areas frequently lacking irrigation water, consider switching to drought-resistant crops that require less water or not planting at all to ensure production efficiency;

c) Organize dredging of canal systems, intake gates for water pumping stations, irrigation pumps, ponds, wells, clear channels, build temporary dams to block saltwater intrusion, install water extraction equipment to proactively operate and ensure unobstructed water flow from water sources to fields, utilizing all available water sources for production and daily life;

d) Strictly manage water resources, prevent leaks and wastage, use water resources efficiently and economically; enhance the use of advanced irrigation methods that conserve water for rice and high-value dryland crops (furrow irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, etc.);

đ) Closely monitor weather information, water conditions, and establish appropriate water storage plans for reservoirs to ensure safety and maximum water storage; promptly adjust water supply plans when water conditions change;

e) Increase publicity through mass media to mobilize and guide the public to use water economically, effectively implement drought prevention and salinity intrusion control measures. Commend and encourage localities and grassroots authorities that have taken proactive initiatives against drought with significant results;

g) Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to advise the Provincial People's Committee on directing and supervising agencies and units to implement measures to ensure water supply, proactively carry out drought prevention and salinity intrusion control work, and regularly report to the Provincial People's Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. Departments and units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) The Water Resources Administration leads, in coordination with the Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, Vietnam Electricity Corporation, provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and related units, closely monitor weather conditions, water resources, and the operation of hydropower reservoirs and irrigation works to promptly direct, inspect, and urge localities to effectively implement measures to prevent and combat drought and salinity intrusion; propose plans for releasing water from hydropower reservoirs when downstream areas request additional water to combat drought;

b) The Crop Production Department leads, in coordination with specialized agencies and localities, guide the adjustment of crop structures, seed varieties, and planting times, disseminate suitable planting, care, and protection techniques based on available irrigation water;

c) The Science, Technology, and Environment Department leads, in coordination with related units, direct scientific institutions to intensify research on short-term and medium-term drought forecasting, develop drought management frameworks, and promptly advise state management agencies on drought prevention and salinity intrusion control measures to support production and daily life from the Winter-Spring crop season 2013-2014;

d) Relevant Departments and Bureaus cooperate with the Water Resources Administration and the Crop Production Department to assist the Ministry in addressing difficulties faced by localities in implementing drought prevention and salinity intrusion control measures and protecting production.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests all departments and units to strictly implement these guidelines./.