Vietnam's Mekong Delta is one of the biggest sufferers of climate change

According to the deputy director of the provincial agriculture department, Do Minh Nhut, local farmers have encountered difficulties in rice production since the beginning of the year.

In the first months of 2018, the unusual weather conditions and deep saltwater intrusion affected the fresh water supply for the 2017-2018 winter-spring crop in the districts of Kien Luong and Giang Thanh.

The weather continued to be complicated in 2018 summer and autumn-spring with prolonged thundershowers. In rainy season, high early floods caused inundation in many localities, causing damage to the rice fields in Giang Thanh, Kien Luong, Hon Dat and Tan Hiep districts.

Natural disasters sank eight vehicles, killing three and injuring eight, and caused 248 houses to collapse and blew the roof off 387 houses. 

In addition, thunderstorms and whirlwinds damaged fish cages, boats and fishing nets, causing total damage worth over VND10 billion.

Climate change has also caused serious landslides in coastal and riverine areas. Thirty seven kilometers out of 200 kilometers of sea dykes are erosed. The situation is  serious in a section of 24 kilometers directly affecting 250 households.

Nhut said four coastal districts have suffered from landslides the most, including An Minh (12.5 kilometers), An Bien (4.5 kilometers), Hon Dat (5 kilometers) and Kien Luong (2.25 kilometers). 

In the last 10 years, 500 hectares of alluvial grounds have eroded and the 60-300 meter protective forest belt has disappeared.

As for riverine areas, a recent survey found that 31 kilometers of land have suffered from serious landslides that need urgent repair. These include 12 kilometers in Rach Gia City, 13.2 kilometers in Hon Dat district and 5.9 kilometers in U Minh Thuong.

Chair of Kien Giang People’s Committee Pham Vu Hong said the impact of climate change on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta was real and visible. Saline intrusion has become even more serious in the last few years, causing shortages of fresh water for both agricultural production and daily life.

In 2015-2016, the Mekong Delta region incurred the worst drought in the last decade. The sea water deeply intruded into the mainland by 80 kilometers, damaging 160,000 hectares of produce.  

Climate change and natural calamities have kicked off an evacuation movement. In Kien Giang, for example, the net migration rate has soared. It is estimated that one out of every 100 residents have left.

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