(VOVworld) – On Thursday Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked people living in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai to help each other in coping with the current drought.

Deputy Prime Minister Phuc inspects rice fields in the Central Highlands which are drying up due to severe drought. (Photo: VGP)

Phuc, together with Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, inspected Chu Puh and Chu Se, worst drought-hit districts in Gia Lai province, and instruct drought control in the Central Highlands.

He demanded local authorities support those affected by the current drought: “Local authorities should visit local people to know how they are struggling to overcome the drought. You should also provide them with food and clean water and take precautions to avoid possible disease outbreak. I suggest local people replace rice by other crops. The central agencies will study alternative irrigation system to prevent future rice crop failure due to drought.”