On March 4, PPC received and worked with the delegation of Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development to evaluate the Project “Water Efficiency Improvement in Drought Affected Provinces”. Attending the meeting were Mr. Y Dham Enuol – Standing Vice chairman of PPC, representatives of relevant local departments and sectors. The working delegation was led by Mr. Sanath Ravawana – senior expert in economics and natural resources of ADB Bank and the participation of members represented for units directly under Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development.

The Project “Water Efficiency Improvement in Drought Affected Provinces” (Project WEIDAP) funded by ADB Bank with the aim of water efficiency improvement in drought affected provinces  of the Central Highlands and South Central Coast will increase the value of agriculture production leading to make a contribution to the new rural development as well as sustainably adapt to climate change.

Participants at the meeting

The major parts of Project WEIDAP include policy institutions, construction and installation, water-saving irrigation technology, project management assistance. For the construction and installation in Dak Lak, it is expected to carry out the construction of the lakeside pumping stations at Hill 500 (Xuan Phu commune, Eakar district), Buon Yong Lake (Ea Kpam commune, Cu M’Gar District), Krong Buk Ha Lake (Ea Phe commune, Krong Pak district), Ea Drang Lake in Ea H’leo district, and Cu Pong Lake (Ea Sim commune, Krong Buk district). This project will also upgrade the irrigation water delivery system of lakes in Buon Ma Thuot city, Krong Pak, Ea Kar, and Ea H’leo districts. The total investment of the project is estimated over 673 billion VND with 85% of this total amount funded by ADB Bank.

At the meeting, the representatives of departments, sectors and localities offered an overview about the situation of agricultural development and water usage, storage capacity of lakes and dams, existing water supply projects. To increase the project efficiency, it is suggested that the project needs to supplement a component of improving the awareness of residents on water usage serving for crops.

Mr. Sanath Ravawana – senior expert in economics and natural resources of ADB Bank introduces Project WEIDAP

In order to implement Project WEIDAP, PPC submitted an Official Dispatch to Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Central Management Board of Irrigation Project and Viet Nam Irrigation Science Institute to propose to carry out two sub-projects: building water pumping stations for upland crops in upstream reservoirs and upgrading the irrigation water delivery system. The two sub-projects will be implemented in Buon Ma Thuot City and the districts of Cu M’Gar, Krong Pak, Krong Buk, Ea H’leo and Ea Kar.

Mr. Y Dham Enuol – Standing Vice chairman of PPC speaks at the meeting.

Addressing at the meeting, Mr. Y Dham Enuol highly appreciated the role of the project in supplying enough water for crops, drought control and meeting the requirements of sustainable agriculture development. The requirements, objectives and criteria of the project are in line with the plan for the provincial agriculture development. The implementation of project will also participate in Dak Lak’s agricultural restructuring. PPC shall request the active coordination among departments, sectors and localities to execute the project effectively. Thus, PPC hopes that Dak Lal wil continue to receiving the assistance and support of units directly under Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development and experts of ADB Bank to implement the project as well as other activities related to agriculture sector in the province.