A farmer visits his rice field, which suffers from salinity intrusion. The salinity intrusion level in the Mekong Delta has exceeded the highest level of the past century, recorded in 2016

Specifically, saltwater has intruded 44-75 kilometers further into the Cua Tieu, Cua Dai, Ham Luong, Co Chien and Hau rivers, two to 18 kilometers more than the levels seen in 2016.

In the Cai Lon River, salinity intrusion has reached 58 kilometers, 13 kilometers more than in 2016.

However, losses triggered by the salinity intrusion are slighter than in 2016.

Le Thanh Tung, deputy head of the Planning Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that nearly 29,700 hectares of rice fields were affected in the 2019 crop and the 2019-2020 winter-spring crop, equivalent to 7.3% of the losses for the 2015-2016 crop.

This result is due to salinity intrusion prevention projects and the early sowing of rice seeds.

Accordingly, rice seeds have been sowed 10-20 days earlier than in previous years.

In addition, the agriculture sector has converted the use purpose of rice fields into 45,300 hectares of vegetable crops, 3,450 hectares of fruit trees and 1,200 hectares of seafood farms. SGT

Trung Chanh

Mekong Delta sets up public tap water faucets as saline intrusion peaks

The Mekong Delta is taking steps to ensure sufficient freshwater supply for household use and agricultural production in areas affected by saltwater intrusion and drought.  

Mekong Delta takes measures to reduce saltwater intrusion

Though saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta was predicted to come earlier and with higher level of salinity than that recorded in the 2015-2016 dry season, the damages to farming areas are expected to be less serious.