(GLO) - Reservoirs and dams play a critical role in supplying water for irrigation, daily use, and hydropower generation. However, in Gia Lai province, particularly in its western region, irrigation infrastructure remains inconsistent and insufficient to meet demand.
In a recent interview with Gia Lai Broadcasting and Newspaper, Mr. Vũ Ngọc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, discussed the current status, challenges, and future plans for the province’s irrigation systems.
*What is the current status of irrigation infrastructure and the management of reservoirs and dams in Gia Lai?
Mr. Vũ Ngọc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Photo: Provided by the interviewee
- Gia Lai province currently operates 283 reservoirs with a combined capacity of approximately 1.275 billion cubic meters, along with 486 weirs and 53 hydropower reservoirs totaling nearly 2,700 MW of capacity.
This infrastructure supplies irrigation water to more than 270,000 hectares of farmland each year.
Beyond irrigation, these facilities provide water for domestic use, power generation, aquaculture, and industrial production.
Large reservoirs such as Ayun Hạ, Ia Mơr, Định Bình, Đồng Mít, and Núi Một ensure stable irrigation for rice, crops, and industrial plants.
They also help regulate floods, provide water for livestock and aquaculture, and support local livelihoods, making a significant contribution to the province’s socio-economic development.
However, many of these facilities were built decades ago and are now severely deteriorated. Landslides on dam slopes, damaged spillways, and degraded intake structures create difficulties in operation, especially during rainy and flood seasons.
Smaller reservoirs managed by local authorities often lack design documentation, complicating maintenance and database development.
In addition, limited operational capacity at the grassroots level leads to technical mismanagement and safety risks.
Ayun Hạ irrigation reservoir supplies water for over 13,500 hectares of agricultural land, supports two rice crops per year in Phú Thiện, Ia Pa, Ayun Pa, generates electricity, and serves several industrial production facilities. Photo: Phạm Quý
*What are the reasons for the limited water supply capacity in the western region?
-Geographical and historical factors have created significant disparities between the eastern and western parts of Gia Lai.
The eastern region, formerly part of Bình Định province, benefited from early investment in reservoirs and dams, with a synchronized canal network adapted to flat terrain and concentrated populations. This provided strong support for irrigation development.
In contrast, the western region, originally part of Gia Lai, faces difficult mountainous terrain, steep slopes, sparse population, prolonged dry seasons, and scattered, unstable surface water sources.
Combined with limited investment resources, these challenges have left the west with insufficient water supply, particularly during the dry season when shortages are frequent.
*Does the province have plans to improve the irrigation system in the western region?
- Yes. The province has designated the western region as a priority for investment during the 2026-2030 period. Major projects include the Ea Thul project and the Ayun Thượng-Đăk Pờ Tó water transfer system, along with anti-erosion works and irrigation modernization initiatives.
The province also plans to expand water-saving irrigation technologies, improve reservoir connectivity, and construct canal systems adapted to local terrain.
These measures aim to narrow regional disparities and secure a stable water supply for both agricultural production and daily life.
*What solutions will be implemented to address the deterioration of reservoirs and dams?
- In the short term, Gia Lai will conduct a comprehensive review of existing infrastructure to develop a prioritized repair list based on urgency and funding availability.
Resources will be mobilized from local and central budgets, national target programs, climate change adaptation funds, and social investment.
The province is also accelerating the use of monitoring technologies, meteorological and hydrological forecasting, and reservoir regulation systems.
Training for operational staff, regular maintenance programs, and community awareness campaigns will be strengthened to ensure safety during storm and flood seasons.
At the same time, Gia Lai is actively seeking diverse funding sources for reservoir rehabilitation, water-saving irrigation, and canal development.
The province has requested that the central government enhance decentralization, increase budget allocations for maintenance of critical reservoirs, and introduce special mechanisms for large-scale irrigation and water supply projects in drought-prone areas.
Additional proposals include investment in centralized rural clean water supply systems and technical support for training human resources in monitoring, operation, and regulation technologies. The ultimate goal is modern, efficient, and safe irrigation management for sustainable development.
Gia Lai province is accelerating its transition to low-emission agriculture, targeting carbon credit markets and long-term sustainability as part of its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
More than four decades after waves of post-reunification migration, Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai has transformed from sparsely cultivated land into a major agricultural production hub, driven by settlers who built new lives on basalt soil.
Farmers in the remote western districts of Gia Lai province are increasingly adopting clean agriculture practices, boosting product value, stabilizing market access and improving incomes through standardized, technology-driven production models.
Gia Lai province aims to produce between 800,000 and 900,000 tonnes of finished steel annually by 2030, under a government-backed industrial development plan, authorities said.
Dozens of households and businesses in Gào Commune have voluntarily donated land and funds to accelerate the construction of a key rural road, helping local authorities resolve long-standing transport bottlenecks and support economic development.
Gia Lai Irrigation Works Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company has ensured a stable water supply for agricultural production and domestic use despite prolonged heatwaves and increasingly complex weather patterns.
The route, part of the eastern North-South Expressway for the 2021-2025 phase, will begin operations at 11:30 a.m., according to Cao Viet Hung, Deputy Director of Project Management Board No. 2 under the Ministry of Construction.
A surge in offshore fishing activity has brought unusually large oceanic tuna to Tam Quan fishing port in central Vietnam, including a specimen weighing more than 300 kilograms, as total catches nearly doubled year-on-year.
Once a barren and economically underdeveloped commune, Kon Chiêng is emerging as a growing hub for large-scale livestock investment, driven by proactive local governance and close coordination with businesses.
Producers in Gia Lai province are accelerating the adoption of science and technology to upgrade the quality, consistency and market reach of products under the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, positioning themselves for deeper integration into domestic and international supply chains.
Authorities in Gia Lai province have reaffirmed strong support for businesses as Vietnam rolls out an ambitious plan to develop 1,000 pioneering enterprises by 2030, aimed at driving innovation, productivity and global competitiveness.
Vietnam’s extension of a 2% value-added tax (VAT) reduction, lowering the rate from 10% to 8%, is delivering broad benefits to businesses and consumers, as authorities widen its scope and duration under Government Decree No. 174/2025/NĐ-CP.
Gia Lai province’s agricultural sector is undergoing a marked transformation, as four cooperative products were honored among 50 outstanding entries nationwide at the 2026 Mai An Tiêm Awards, signaling a shift toward standardized, high-value production.
Authorities in Gia Lai province are stepping up efforts to support household businesses in transitioning into formal enterprises under a provincial plan aimed at boosting private sector growth, though conversion rates remain below expectations.
Gia Lai authorities are stepping up efforts to refine policy frameworks and accelerate e-commerce development, as digital trade becomes a central pillar of economic growth.
Vietnam’s tax authorities are rapidly implementing a series of sweeping reforms in 2026 aimed at easing financial burdens on households and businesses, while stimulating production, consumption and overall economic growth.
The Standing Committee of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee has approved a VND 190 billion (approximately USD 7.8 million) investment to construct the Đăk Pơ Kơ Bridge, a project deemed critical to restoring transport links and supporting local trade.
Coffee farmers in Gia Lai are increasingly turning to weather index insurance as a practical tool to manage climate-related risks, helping stabilise incomes and strengthen the resilience of Vietnam’s coffee sector.
Gia Lai is accelerating investment in high-tech agriculture, identifying it as a strategic pathway to strengthen food security, boost exports, and adapt to climate and market pressures.
Ia Le commune in Gia Lai province has rapidly positioned itself as an emerging investment destination, surpassing its full-year 2026 target within the first quarter, driven by strong interest in renewable energy and high-tech agriculture projects.
A growing number of young women in Gia Lai province are transforming family-run traditional crafts into modern businesses, leveraging technology, innovation and branding to reach wider markets and strengthen local products.
As markets and consumers increasingly demand food safety certification and transparent production processes, agricultural products must meet stricter technical standards to remain competitive.
The Gia Lai Market Ecosystem Initiative for Farmers (GLIMER), implemented between 2024 and 2025, is emerging as a key driver of change in agricultural production, enabling farmers to improve efficiency, reduce costs and better adapt to climate variability.
The launch of the FLC Pleiku resort, entertainment complex and golf course on April 4 is expected to mark a turning point for tourism in Gia Lai, positioning the province as a key destination in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
