Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Binh Dinh-based CARE International held the seminar on the project of preventing, reduce effect, aid community to live with drought. Binh Dinh Newspaper reporter interviewed Phan Trong Ho, vice director of provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department cum head of steering board on the issue.
Q: Could you brief on the project conducted in Binh Dinh?
A: The project is sponsored by USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). It aims to prevent and reduce bad effects caused by droughts.
Advanced technologies will be applied to build the low-cost water supply system to improve the environment in rural areas.
The project worth US$322 million will be conducted in two years (2008-09) in Canh Vinh Commune (Van Canh District), Phuoc Thuan (Tuy Phuoc), and My Phong (Phu My).
Q: Why did CARE decide to carry out the project in Binh Dinh?
A: Binh Dinh is a central province where there are annually droughts, threatening the people’s livelihood. Also, the drought can badly affect the natural fresh water source. Binh Dinh was, therefore, chosen to join the project, helping the people to overcome difficulties to improve their living standard.
Q: How will the project be conducted in the coming time?
A: As planned, it includes three phases. The first phase is to prepare the program, connect the institutions, and cooperate with beneficiaries. The second is for livelihood activities such as the diversification of agricultural production and action plan for reducing drought in localities.
The third phase is to share experiences and measures to popularize activities.
Q: What activities will the project involve initially?
A: After the seminar, the steering board will carry our some activities like the training to enhance the awareness in the community for effectively using the water supply for agricultural production, the application of low-cost technologies in clean water supply, and measures to store and supply water for localities.
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