SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM DATA COLLECTION SURVEY ON WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FINAL REPORT Main Report April 2018 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. VT JR 18-009 SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM DATA COLLECTION SURVEY ON WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FINAL REPORT Main Report April 2018 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. Location Map of Central Highlands Basin Map of Central Highlands Photographs (1/4) 1. Meeting Views Opening Ceremony and Welcome Remarks Japanese ODA to Central Highlands (MARD representative) (Minister, Embassy of Japan in Vietnam) Methodology and Schedule of the Survey Drought situation in Dak Lak and countermeasures (JICA Study Team) (Representative of five provinces: Dak Lak) Open Speech in Progress Workshop in Lam Dong PPC Presentation of Progress Report in Lam Dong PPC (Lam Dong’s Vice Chairman) (JICA Study Team) Source: JICA Study Team 1 Photographs (2/4) 2. Site Photos Pepper field was damaged in the drought event 2015/16. Victim showed the flood water level in 12/2016 (District: Chu Se, Commune: H Bong) (District: Di Linh, Commune: Tam Bo) Drip irrigation system for pepper Private company is purchasing raw coffee from farmers (District: Krong No Commune: Nam Nung) (District: Krong No, Commune: Tan Thanh) Telemetric rainfall and reservoir water level Dak Trit Irrigation Reservoir monitoring system (District: Dak Ha, Commune: Dak La) (District: Ea Sup, Commune: Ya To Mot) Source: JICA Study Team 2 Photographs (3/4) 3. Site Photos The gate was stolen and the canal got stuck due to an Trader and seller measured the water content of coffee ineffective O&M activity (District: Ea Sup, Commune: Ya To Mot) (District: Ea Sup, Commune: Ya To Mot) Real time telemetric meteo-hydrological monitoring Interview with local people about saving water system installed by MARD Pilot Project in 2010 irrigation issue (District: Ea Sup, Commune: Ya To Mot) (District: Chu Puh, Commune: Ia Blu) Artificial small pond – an effective method for saving Meeting with commune staffs water (District: Dak Ha, Commune: Dak La) (District: Krong No, Commune: Nam Nung) Source: JICA Study Team 3 Photographs (4/4) 4. Wrap-up workshop Opening Ceremony and Welcome Remarks Opening Speech (Chairperson, Lam Dong) (Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Vietnam) Speech Presentation of Water Availability and Demand (Vice Minister, MARD) (JICA Study Team) Discussion about study results Workshop Summary and Conclusion (Vice Head of Irrigation Sub-Department, Lam Dong) (JICA’s Senior representative) Source: JICA Study Team 4 Final Report Summary Summary 1. Background and Objectives Attributed to El Niño weather event, the provinces of Central Highlands, Central and South coastal areas, and the Mekong River Delta were severely affected by the drought from the end of 2015 to 2016 and resulting in extended saltwater intrusion. According to the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), agriculture land was damaged in the Central and South coastal areas and Central Highlands, out of which, paddy yields of 40,000 ha dropped and other perennial and annual crops of 12,000 ha faced water shortage. The level of water in the reservoirs and dams for hydropower generation sharply declined from 20% to 50% of their design storage capacity in the above regions, among which Central Highlands saw approximately 200 small-scale reservoirs drying up. Along with the immediate actions for food aid and water supply by the Government of Vietnam (GOVN), United Nations (UN) agencies, and MARD called for urgent assistances worth USD 4.85 million to foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam from bilateral and international development partners. The Government of Japan (GOJ) agreed with the GOVN to assess damages and losses caused by the drought in Central Highlands and examine medium- and long-term countermeasures. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in response, decided to conduct the Data Collection Survey on Water Resources Management in Central Highlands, in which the experiences and lessons collected in the past projects and studies for rural and agricultural development, disaster prevention, water resource development, and climate change are to be reflected best and most. The objective of the Study is to collect and assess the existing data and information in the Central Highlands necessary for water resources management, specifically agricultural water management, based on the request from MARD and the five provinces of the Central Highlands and the past JICA assistance. The study result shall contribute preparation of medium- and long-term disaster prevention measures. 2. Policy on Natural Disasters, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Water Resources Management in Vietnam Socioeconomic Development Strategy (SEDS) for the Period of 2011-2020 Vietnam has a ten-year strategy from 2011 up to 2020, the Socioeconomic Development Strategy (SEDS), in which promotion of human resources/skills development, improvement of market institutions, and infrastructure development were targeted. There have been two five-year development plans in the period to realize SEDS: Socioeconomic Development Plan (SEDP) 2011-2015 and SEDP 2016-2020. The first five-year plan intended to achieve high quality and sustainable economic growth, improve living standards of ethnic minorities, strengthen environmental protection; and mitigate and prevent adverse impacts caused by climate change. SEDP 2011-2015, however, saw a slower growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), and bigger budget deficit than expected as a result. Achievements in forest cover were far below their targets in all five provinces, among which Dak Lak and Dak Nong experienced huge losses. The second five-year plan has been implemented since 2016 to accelerate the reforms to achieve the target set in SEDS. National Target Program (NTP) on New Rural Development (NRD) The NTP for new rural development is intended to build new-style rural areas for lifting living standards, developing socioeconomic infrastructure, and achieving economic reform and production models, to combine agricultural development with that of urban areas, and to create a democratic, equal, and stable rural society imbued with traditional cultural identities. Under the programme, basic infrastructures such as roads, electricity, clean water, schools, and medical stations shall be developed to meet the local needs. By 2020, at least 50% of all communes throughout the country are expected to meet the criteria of new- style rural commune, and each province is encouraged to have at least one district completing the criteria Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. S-1 Data Collection Survey on Water Resources Management in Central Highlands Final Report Summary of new-style rural district. In Central Highlands, 123 communes and one district have already reached the criteria, as of 2016. Strategy on Agriculture and Rural Development for 2011-2020 The overall objectives of the strategy are: 1) to ensure a comprehensive agricultural development towards modernization, 2) to construct new rural infrastructure, link agriculture with other sectors, ensure stable rural society, protect ecological environment, strengthen political system in rural areas; and 3) to improve the living standard, create fast and lasting changes in difficult areas, and allocate trained farmers for production. Under the second five-year period, 2016-2020, agricultural development towards a comprehensive, modern, sustainable, and large-scale commodity production, rural development associated with industrialization and urbanization, income increase and improvement of basic conditions of rural living and environmental protection are targeted. As for Central Highlands, 1) develop large-scale area of perennial industrial crops with high quality, develop the processing industry to add values to annual crop productions, establish major wholesale markets at international level, 2) develop livestock with high quality to meet domestic demand, 3) protect the protection forests, special-use forests, and develop the non-timber forest products, develop aquaculture, and develop traditional craft villages, and 4) poverty alleviation for ethnic minorities are proposed. National Strategy on Water Resources to 2020 The overall objectives are: 1) to protect, efficiently exploit, sustainably develop national water resources, 2) to take initiative in prevention, mitigation, and minimization of water hazards, 3) to create a multi- sectoral water economy, and 4) to cooperate efficiently by harmonizing the interests of countries sharing water sources with Vietnam. The strategy specifies the issues on water pollution and over-exploitation of the Dong Nai River, and water resources development and flood protection in Central Highlands. National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response, and Mitigation to 2020 The strategy states specific objectives: 1) capacity enhancement for disaster forecast, 2) integration of plans for disaster prevention, response, and mitigation with development plans, 3) capacity development in disaster prevention, response, and mitigation for field staff and more than 70% of population living in disaster-prone areas, 4) relocation from disaster-prone area to safe area, 5) adequate investment for construction and procurement of infrastructure and facility and for human resources development, 6) construction of storm shelters for boats and ships, and 7)