Parched and pouring

A grim harvest (Credit: Anil Agarwal / CSE)Vietnam is grappling with the elements. Different parts of the country are reeling under varying extremes of weather, with the central region in the grip of a deadly drought and northern areas deluged by floods.

A two-month dry spell has hit paddy crop in central Vietnam severely. More than one-third of the fields are drought-affected. It is feared that around 23,500 hectares of crops could be lost. The water level in rivers and streams in the region has plummeted alarmingly. As a result, reservoirs are unable to supply water for irrigation.

Even as the drought devastates one part of the country, heavy rains are flooding northern Vietnam. The water level in the Red river and Thai Binh river systems have crossed the danger mark following more than seven inches of rain recently.