Posted on April 20, 2026
By THANH TUẤN
Gia Lai – The western region of the province is entering the dry season, many localities are facing severe water shortages.
The entire area has thousands of hectares of coffee, durian, and passion fruit that need irrigation to ensure yield. However, in the past two months, prolonged hot weather has caused many places to fall into the risk of drought, especially in Gao, Ia Hrung, Ayun Pa, Ia Krel, Duc Co, Bau Can communes…
The dam lake dried up to the bottom
People have to find many ways to find irrigation water sources to save crops. While many dams and reservoirs have dried up, crops are seriously lacking irrigation water.
The dam lake in Gao commune dries up next to coffee plantations waiting for watering
In Gao commune, people have to find every way to save coffee gardens. Ho De Chi, the main irrigation water source with an area of about 2 hectares, is now dry to the bottom, dozens of pumps have to be “covered with tarpaulins”.
Mr. Ro Cham Bin (resident of Gao commune) said: “Previously, people gathered at the lake to pump water to water trees. Now the lake is shallow, many households have to stay up all night to watch for water, but each pumping only lasts for 1–2 hours and the water source dries up, not enough to irrigate a large area.
The land is cracked and barren due to lack of water and drought
Meanwhile, the demand for irrigation water for thousands of hectares of coffee is very large and lasts for many hours. Many households have spent from 150–200 million VND to drill more wells to maintain production. Others hire excavators to dredge and dig deep into the lake with the hope of finding groundwater, but the efficiency is not high.
Coffee gardens are withered and stunted due to lack of water
Mr. Tran Tan Quang – Vice Chairman of Gao Commune People’s Committee, Gia Lai province said that the locality is propagating to people to use water sparingly to balance water sources. In the long term, the commune will propose support for dredging dams and reservoirs, and solidifying canals and ditches to ensure water sources for production.
In the context of prolonged heat, finding water sources not only helps save crops but also maintains livelihoods for people.
People have to bring water pumps home because the water source is not enough to pump
Regarding the drought situation, Gia Lai Irrigation Works One Member Limited Liability Company has proposed funding to dredge and clear many large dams.
Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee also allocated tens of billions of VND, assigning the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Works to repair and upgrade the dam and reservoir system in the period 2026–2030.
People rent excavators to deeply dredge to find irrigation water
Some projects are expected to be upgraded and repaired, including Ia Mlah, Ayun Ha, Plei Tho Ga, Plei Pai, Ia Hrung reservoirs; and at the same time, dredging the Ayun Ha reservoir to increase water storage capacity.
