The 2016 drought will affect many industries and lives.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of October 31, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai chaired an online conference on responding to drought and saltwater intrusion in 2015-2016 due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon. Comrade Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired at the Nghe An bridge.

Nghe An bridge participates in online conference

In 2015, drought caused nearly 40 thousand hectares of agricultural land to stop production due to lack of water, the area of ​​crops affected by drought reached 122 thousand hectares and tens of thousands of people lacked water for daily use. El Nino has affected our country since the end of 2014 and is likely to continue until early 2016.

According to the assessment of the National Center for Hydrometeorology, in addition to the strong phenomenon, Elnino 2014/2016 is likely to become one of the longest El Nino in the past 60 years. The rainy season is likely to come late and end early, the total rainfall is generally lower than the average of many years (TBNN), however heavy rain in a short period is also likely to appear. It is forecasted that from now until April 2016, the temperature across the country is likely to be 0.5-1.5oC higher than the average, severe cold is unlikely to occur, many areas are likely to have a large rainfall deficit, especially the Central region is 40-60% lower than the average.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong chaired at Nghe An bridge point

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee clearly stated the drought situation in Nghe An. Accordingly, up to now, the total rainfall in Nghe An province has only reached 60% - 70% of the average of many years. Large reservoirs in Nghe An have only accumulated 50-70% of their capacity, especially many reservoirs have only reached less than 50% of their capacity. In the coming time, if there is no rain, the risk of drought in Nghe An is very serious, with only about 16,000 hectares out of nearly 30,000 hectares of rice having enough water for irrigation in the Spring crop of 2016.

Nghe An has also developed specific drought prevention plans for each region, launched irrigation dredging of canals, and properly operated key works to prevent saltwater intrusion and change crop structure. The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also proposed that the Central Government support Nghe An in drought prevention work such as building an additional pumping station at Nam Dan sluice, deploying a sluice to prevent saltwater intrusion and keep fresh water on Lam River to thoroughly resolve the drought and saltwater intrusion situation...

Upgrading and repairing the upstream and downstream slopes of Khe Quanh Lake, Nghi Yen, Nghi Loc

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stated: The 2016 drought will impact many production sectors and people's lives. Localities need to increase water storage in reservoirs; develop plans for economical and reasonable use, in accordance with water resources; organize forecasts for saltwater intrusion; increase the application of advanced irrigation methods, saving water for rice and upland crops... Each region must have specific and reasonable solutions focusing on crop structure and planting varieties.

Summer-autumn drought in Hung Nguyen.

Localities should pay attention to fire prevention and control work, review key areas with very high fire risks and large-scale fires to supplement fire prevention and control plans, ensuring that the Central Government supports the mobilization of forces when it exceeds the control and handling capacity of the locality. The fisheries and livestock sectors also need specific plans to minimize the negative impacts of El Nino. Relevant ministries and sectors such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, etc. are required to have plans to coordinate with localities in preventing and combating unstable weather phenomena.

Phu Huong