Heavy and prolonged rains have claimed five lives and caused economic losses totaling 135 billion VND (over 5.8 million USD) in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, according to the provincial Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue.

Dak Nong will organise a programme on July 18-23 to promote avocados, a specialty fruit of the Central Highlands province.

When international market pressures challenged Vietnamese farmers to adopt good agricultural practices and produce organic pepper, many responded positively.