VietNamNet Bridge - The long- lasting drought and saltwater influx hitting provinces of the Mekong Delta has seriously affected local residents' production and life, reported the Steering Committee of the West-southern Region on Tuesday.

Saltwater intrusion and drought destroyed over 221,000 hectares of rice, 6,568 hectares of vegetable crops and 26,500 hectares of fruit and industrial tree.

Around 225,800 families living in the provinces of the Mekong Delta faced prolonged water shortage due to effect of the saltwater influx, including 86,000 families in Ben Tre, 43,000 households in Soc Trang and 25, 000 families in Kien Giang.

Total damage in the provinces is estimated around VND4,729 billion.

Recently, the provinces of the Mekong Delta started sowing summer-autumn rice crop, planting new vegetable crops, and letting out shrimp in territorial waters of Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.

SGGP