Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat reported that due to the impacts of El Nino, in 2015, the south central and Central Highlands regions had to grapple with high temperatures and water shortages that affected 40,000 hectares of rice, 122,000 hectares of other crops and the daily lives of tens of thousands of local households.
Meanwhile, in the Mekong Delta, saltwater has intruded upstream 50-90km into the mainland, which is expected to affect up to 340,000 hectares of rice in the region, he said.
After hearing the report, PM Nguyen Tan Dung requested the involvement of ministries, agencies, localities and the entire political system in combating the natural disaster.
The top priority is to ensure water for daily activities and production of locals, he said.
The leader asked the Ministry of Health to take counter-measures against diseases in the dry season and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with localities in preventing salinisation in the Mekong Delta.
He urged thorough preparations for a report on national socio-economic development and a working report of the Government over the past five years, which will be submitted to the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly in March.
The meeting heard that in 2015, State budget collection hit nearly VND997 trillion (US$44.9 billion), up 9.4% compared with the previously estimated figure. State budget overspending was estimated at 6.1% of GDP.
Twelve out of 14 targets set by the NA were fulfilled or surpassed. Two exceptions are the rate of forest coverage and export growth rate.
The first two months of this year saw the outstanding performance of the service sector, with an increased number of international tourists, improved purchasing power and higher credit growth.
Also in the morning session, Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam, Deputy Minister of Public Security, presented the NA Standing Committee’s draft resolution on the continued application of the Ordinance on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools until a law is formed.
