A prolonged severe drought in the Central Highlands provinces of Vietnam has damaged hectares of local coffee fields, putting entire plantations at risk.

According to the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Gia Lai Province, nearly 380 hectares of crops have been damaged due to drought and water shortages since the beginning of this year.

In Duc Co District alone, drought has impacted 365 hectares of coffee plantations, though the full extent of the damage has yet to be fully assessed. 

The issue extends beyond Duc Co District, with many other localities in the province also struggling to secure irrigation water. 

In Chu Puh District, 95 hectares of coffee and pepper crops, along with 75 hectares of fruit trees, are suffering from severe water shortages.

As of Wednesday, in Ia Krieng Commune, Duc Co District, numerous coffee fields had exhibited signs of distress.

Nguyen Van Quang, chairman of the People’s Committee of Ia Krieng Commune, noted that the region has not received any rainfall since the end of the rainy season in November 2023, exacerbating the drought conditions.

Over the past month, the situation has worsened as the water levels in rivers and streams have diminished, followed by a decrease in the water supply from drilled wells. 

Local coffee growers, facing dire circumstances, can only watch as their crops wither.

Kpuih H Yit, a 34-year-old resident of Ap Village, shared that her two gardens of 600 coffee plants are wilting. 

Close to Kpuih H Yit’s property, Ro Mah H Blui, 31, faces similar challenges. 

With household water for daily needs already scarce, she is unable to allocate water to rescue her dying coffee plants.

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