Dak Lak PPC works with JICA, MARD (03/11/2016, 15:33)
On October 31st, Mr. Y Giang Gry Nie Knong – Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) along with Office of PPC, Departments and sectors held a meeting with the delegation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) led by Mr. Naoki Kakioka - Vice Chief Representative of JICA Viet Nam. The meeting aims to propose solutions to water resources management in the Central Highlands.
 
Overview of the meeting
 
A representative of Dak Lak PPC provided at the meeting information regarding current status of water resources exploitation and management methods of the province. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development evaluated that Dak Lak province has large amount of surface water but unequal distribution.
 
In the rainy season, the flow accounts for 75-85 percent of annual flow but decreases to 15-25 percent in the dry season. This leads to water shortages and drought in the dry season. Total reservoir capacity reaches over 300 million sq.m, however, indiscriminate exploitation of upstream forest causes of sediment and reducing capacity. For water surface resources for agricultural production in Serepok River valley, 770 irrigation works have been built to supply water for over 1,300 hectares of crops.
 
Mr. Y Giang Gry Nie Knong – Vice Chairman of Dak Lak PPC speaks at the meeting
 
The climate change has caused of prolonged drought in the province. In the period of 2010-2016, more than 328 thousand hectares of crops have been affected by drought, caused damages of over VND 9 trillion. In addition, agriculture production has been seriously impacted by irregular floods. The management and investment in upgrading, repairing irrigation system have not been attached a special importance. A number of irrigation works have been degraded, had low efficiency. 
     
           
A representative of JICA speaks at the meeting
 
According to the proposed Plan of the working delegation, from December 2016 to December 2017, the delegation shall conduct surveys of water resources for agriculture production in the five Central Highlands provinces. Meanwhile, selection, guidance and investment in localities shall be implemented with the aim of increasing the efficiency of using water resources for agriculture production. 
 
Vice Chairman Y Giang Gry Nie Knong at the meeting highly appreciated the proposal of the working delegation and committed to effectively coordinating to find solutions to water resources management in order to promote agricultural economy. The Vice Chairman suggested the delegation supporting Dak Lak province in upgrading 17 operating irrigation systems, building new monitoring stations with total budget of VND 1 trillion, a number of scientific and technological projects related to water saving irrigation system.

By Kim Bao