VietNamNet Bridge – The Central Highlands in general, Dak Lak province in particular, is facing the toughest drought in years. Ponds and lakes are dried to the bottom; fields are chapped; thousands of hectares of crops are being withered by thirst.

The Ea H'Rar 1 Lake in Ea Tul commune, the district of Cu M'Gar, Dak Lak province, is dried to the bottom. Local people do not know where to get water to irrigate coffee.

According to a report by the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, because of severe drought, by mid-March, the province had nearly 150 depleted reservoirs; 23 dams on small streams that could not work; and 46 pumping stations that had to work moderately.

Ponds and reservoirs in Dak Lak province in particular, the Central Highlands in general are dried now. This is the most horrific image in the Central Highlands for many years. In picture: the Ea H'Rar 1 Lake.

Mr. Ama En in Ea Tul commune, Cu M'gar district cries for harsh drought. He says that he has never seen such a severe drought in his life. His 1-hectar coffee garden is dying because of drought.

Lacking water for irrigation, people in many parts of Dak Lak dug wells of tens of meters deep but they did not find water.

These two men are preparing to drill a 80-100 meter well have water for their coffee gardens.

According to the local authorities, by mid-March, the total area of crops suffered from drought is more than 25,000 hectares, including over 7,000 hectares of rice and more than 17,000 hectares of coffee. Over 2,000 hectares of crops were completely withered. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Highlands including Kon Tum, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Dak Lak and Gia Lai, has over 50,000 hectares of crops need water now, including over 14,000 hectares of rice, more than 34,000 hectares of coffee and over 2,000 hectares of other crops.

Although Dak Lak province recently received two "yellow rains", local farmers still pray for more rain.