Gia Lai Agricultural Products Struggle Against Floods – Sustainable solutions for production recovery

1. Emergency situation: Severe Flooding Devastates Gia Lai’s Agricultural Region

On November 19, 2025, Gia Lai Province faced a historic flood triggered by consecutive storms and tropical depressions, especially following Storm No. 13. This situation has dealt a heavy blow to the province’s agriculture—its most vital economic sector.

Widespread Flooding:Many eastern communes, home to major crop-growing areas, are submerged under deep water, causing serious local isolation. Water levels in rivers and streams—particularly the Ba River—have risen to record highs, posing direct threats to lives and property.

Massive Agricultural Losses:Initial assessments show enormous damage to Gia Lai’s agricultural sector. Thousands of hectares of key crops such as coffee, pepper, fruit trees, and vegetables have been inundated or destroyed. Total losses are estimated in the trillions of VND, severely impacting farmers’ livelihoods.

Emergency Response:Local authorities have urgently evacuated thousands of households from high-risk areas and activated the highest-level flood response protocols.

2. Decisive Leadership: Policies to Support Post-Flood Agricultural Recovery

In response to the severe losses, the Government and local authorities have issued urgent directives focusing on support measures and the restoration of agricultural production.

2.1. Rapid Assessment and Support for Capital and Seed Recovery

Once the floodwaters recede, the top priority is to accurately assess the damaged crop areas and the number of affected livestock.

Financial support:The Prime Minister has instructed ministries and central agencies to urgently allocate emergency funding to Gia Lai for disaster recovery.

Preferential policies:Provincial authorities have proposed support policies for new-season crop varieties, preferential loan packages, and consideration of agricultural insurance mechanisms to help reduce risks for farmers.

2.2. Technical Guidance – “Emergency Treatment” for Flood-Affected Crops

This is a crucial stage that determines the recovery capacity of Gia Lai’s key agricultural products:

Coffee and Pepper

• Rapidly drain excess water from plantations; prune broken or damaged branches.

• Apply fungicides and foliar fertilizers containing micronutrients (such as Zn and Cu) to increase plant resistance.

Short-cycle Vegetables

• Remove completely damaged plants.

• Clear crop residues and disinfect the soil with lime powder or biological agents.

• Prepare resilient, disease-resistant seeds for the next planting cycle.

Livestock and Poultry

• Clean and disinfect barns using Chlorine or iodine-based solutions to prevent post-flood disease outbreaks.

• Conduct emergency vaccinations (Foot-and-mouth disease, Avian influenza, etc.).

3. Sustainable Orientation: A Chance to Restructure Gia Lai’s Agricultural Sector

Natural disasters pose challenges, but they also create opportunities for Gia Lai to reassess and restructure its agricultural sector toward greater sustainability and resilience.

Rational crop restructuring:Research is underway to convert low-lying, flood-prone areas into zones for flood-tolerant crops or even aquaculture.

Investment in flood-prevention infrastructure:Resources should be prioritized for constructing and reinforcing irrigation canals, in-field dikes, and small reservoirs to better manage drainage and water regulation.

Promoting smart agriculture:Adopting technologies such as weather forecasting systems and soil sensors will help proactively mitigate risks and reduce natural disaster impacts on Gia Lai’s agricultural products.

Gia Lai’s agricultural sector has long proven its value. Despite the current difficulties, with strong government support and the unity and perseverance of local farmers, Gia Lai agriculture is certain to overcome this challenge and recover robustly.