79,180 hectares of agri-land damaged due to Vietnam flash floods

Cattle too have been impacted by the flooding with around 7,187 of them affected, as well as 1,253 fishponds displaced

The recent floods in Vietnam have impacted large areas of agricultural land and cost the agriculture sector around 127 billion kips as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The exact areas of crop damage are yet to be accessed by the authorities concerned who are waiting for the water levels to recede.

The floods struck almost about 79,180 hectares of wet season rice and expected to damage at least 23,400 hectares.

Reports called for immediate relief for a total of 71,580 families in 1,097 villages, 95 districts in 13 provinces. Phongsaly, Bokeo, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xayaboury and Xieng Khuang in the north, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, and Savannakhet provinces in the central and Champassak and Attapeu in the south are among the most affected by the rising waters.

The Khammuan province experienced the worst water levels with damage estimated to about 45 percent of the total 80,773 hectares of rice planted followed by Savannakhet province with a damage expectation of around 14 percent of the total 196,275 hectares and Champassak province with 9 percent of the total 106,563 hectares. Pests and landslides too contributed to the destruction of the paddy.

Cattle too have been impacted by the flooding with around 7,187 of them affected, as well as 1,253 fishponds displaced in the Attapeu, Oudomxay, Bokeo and Khammuan provinces.

Other physical damages have been in the cases of irrigation systems with 153 pump houses and 189 channels affected by the flash floods. The overall damage will impact the market prices as the latter is expected to soar due to the shortage of supply. The government has, however, instructed concerned sectors to monitor and control the market to prevent unfair rises and corruption.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued a directive, in view of the recent situation, to corresponding central and local levels to control the prices of goods and services so as to maintain better price stability as well as to protect the economy from other impact and ensuring social order. It will further ensure that the consumers are treated in a fair manner in terms of quality, price, and quantity.