Due to the ongoing drought, farmers in the Central region of Veitnam are struggling to find alternative water supply for their crops and animals, Viet Nam News reported.

Hardest hit by prolonged heatwave and drught are Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Quang Ngai, Quang Tri and Ha Tinh provinces.

In Ninh Thuan, provincial authorities declared an emergency last week, with farmers having to drive their cattle herds long distances to find water.

Farmers have to take turns to take their cattle to a small canal in the Hau Sanh grasslands in Ninh Phuoc District, which receives a little flow released from the Don Duong Reservoir in Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The heat and drought are expected to last until September, and all reservoirs in the province are almost if not completely dry.

In adjacent Binh Thuan Province, drought has hit 525ha of rice fields and 450ha of dragon fruit gardens. Another 976ha of land has been left uncultivated to reduce losses.

In Quang Tri Province, the agriculture division in Huong Hoa District said 1,000ha of cassava and 300ha of coffee plants have withered.

Officials said last year’s average rainfall was much lower than the usual at 1,000mm, so local reservoirs were experiencing critical shortages. They could only irrigate half the rice fields and pepper vines in the district.

Cattle die, crops wither in Vietnam's Central region - Thai PBS English News