Hanoi (VNA) – More than 67,160 haof farmland nationwide are likely to be hit by drought and saline intrusion inthe coming time if a lack of rainfall persists, according to the Directorate ofWater Resource under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Currently, in the country’s north-centralregion, about 160 ha of the winter-spring crop in Thua Thien-Hue province arebeing hit by drought and saline intrusion.

Meanwhile, up to 28,000 ha of crops inVietnam’s central region may suffer risks of drought in the  upcoming time, including those along therivers of Ma in Thanh Hoa province, Ca in Nghe An and Ha Tinh, Gianh - Nhat Lein Quang Binh, Thach Han in Quang Tri and Huong in Thua Thien - Hue.

In the Central Highlands, more than 3,000ha of crops are facing water shortage, with 220 ha of those could be lost.Plants on around 37,000 ha of farmland could be adversely affected byunfavourable weather conditions, mostly in the provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nongand Gia Lai.

Similarly, nearly 6,000 ha of farmland inthe south-eastern region localities of Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tauare being in the same situation.

The Directorate of Water Resources recentlyworked with relevant agencies on plans regulating reservoirs, in a bid to cope withdrought and water shortage.

Localities are instructed to keep a closewatch on weather conditions and water supply, to take timely measures againstdrought and saline intrusion in the north-central, Central Highlands, andMekong Delta regions.-VNA