Bac Lieu (VNA) – Measures to dealwith drought and saline intrusion in theMekong Delta region were discussed during a workshop in Bac Lieu province onApril 17.
Organised by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the event drew experts, scientists andmanagers from research institutes and universities, and representatives from regionallocalities such as Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Kien Giang.
Experts assessed solutions to adapt to drought and saltwater intrusion in this year’s dry season, whilediscussing the efficiency of transformative economic models that have beenimplemented to address the problem.
Coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta are mostly affected by salinity intrusionand climate change. Scientists said the best solution is to plant crops able toadapt to climate change.
Associate Professor, PhD. Vo Cong Thanh fromCan Tho University stressed the need to pay more attention to building infrastructure.
Climate change response infrastructureprojects must be effective, he said, adding that they should also not affectthe environment.
Duong Thanh Trung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Lieu province, saidthe locality will restructure many production areas.
The province is concentrating on transforming ineffective rice production areasinto the rice/shrimp rotation model, he noted, adding that nearly 40,000 ha is applying the model.
The locality will replicate this model, while stepping up the transfer ofscience and technology and apply effective rice growing models, he said.
The Mekong Delta, thecountry’s largest rice granary, comprises 12 provinces and one centrally-runcity with a total area of 40,000 square kilometres and a combined population of18 million. It has been tasked with ensuring the country’s food security.
However, it is also one of the most affected by climate change, rising-sealevel and saltwater intrusion. By mid-2016, the Mekong Delta faced serious droughtand saline intrusion. This year’s dry season, drought, saltwater intrusion andriverbank and coastline erosion, is also extreme.
At present, salineintrusion is infiltrating regional localities, affecting a large area of rice andvegetables.-VNA
The Prime Minister has approved 284.5 billion VND (12.7 million USD) in aid to help 19 provinces across the country address the consequences of droughts and saline intrusion since early this year.
Despite a larger scale of plantation, winter-spring rice crops grown in the south are estimated to yield just over 11.36 million tonnes of rice, a decrease of 190,000 tonnes compared with last year.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has implemented a project on managing and mitigating the risk of droughts and floods in the greater Mekong Sub-region.
The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has asked the government for 76 billion VND in financial support to help the province cope with drought and saline intrusion in the dry season in 2017.
A seminar on building plans in response to drought, saline intrusion and flooding which are consequences of climate change in the Mekong Delta region was held in Can Tho city on July 21.
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At the workshop (Source: VNA) 
