Vietnam suffered a severe drought from 2014-16 where water shortages resulted in substantial crop losses for high value horticulture crops.
In response, Vietnam developed a project, known as Water Efficiency Improvement in Drought Affected Provinces (WEIDAP), to provide a series of works that include a modernised pressurised irrigation supply system to high value horticulture. The system will impact five provinces and involve 12 irrigation pumping schemes ranging in size from 150-2,000ha each. Other associated works are canal modernisations and some river weir upgrades.
RMCG Senior Fellow Rob Rendell has provided input to WEIDAP for over three years and is coordinating the Australian expert support to WEIDAP with funding from the Austalian Water Partnership. A design review of WEIDAP projects in the Dak Lak/Dak Nong Provinces is now available and can be accessed here.
In June, Rob referred to this report during his presentation at an Austrade webinar which aimed to share Australia’s knowledge and best practices in irrigation water use efficiency to more than 70 participants across India.