South central drought to continue to September

The flow of the Ba River in Phu Yen Province is 74% lower than last year. Some reservoirs have very little water left. Other reservoirs in Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan have run out of water.

The forecast says that drought would be more intense from now until August. The flow of rivers from Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan is 40-65% lower than average, and this year's rainy season in the southern central coast will be late, with rainfall on July and August possibly 10-20% lower than previous years' average.

On June 24^th, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will host an international conference in Ninh Thuan to seek measures to prevent drought due to climate change in southern central coast and Central Highlands.

With the extended impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon, the country's agriculture will have to absorb international experience and look at addressing this serious issue.