A farmer on his paddle field which suffers critical loss due to saline intrusion. (Photo: baobaclieu.vn)
Bac Lieu (VNA) – Farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu affected by severe drought and saline intrusion have received support from the Government, local authority and banks to restart their crop production.
Along with the Government’s financial support of 11 billion VND (493,240 USD), some 500 dams have been constructed by the province to help local farmers save their crops.
In addition, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies’s Bac Lieu branch ordered its transactions offices and credit units to reschedule the loan repayment period while exempting or reducing interest rates for the farmer borrowers.
Based on the famers’ capacity to recover their crops, the bank should give more loans to customers so they can continue their production plan, said Pham Thanh Binh, director of the bank.
According to a representative from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Department, the acute drought and saline intrusion caused serious damage to local agriculture.
Shrimp crops are forecasted to suffer from critical loss due to prolonged heat.
As the level of salt content in the water is extremely high at irrigation channels, the agricultural sector will take drastic measures to prevent risks to this year’s shrimp crops.
Furthermore, agricultural agencies are carrying out research to choose suitable breeds that can adapt to climate change while enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of drought resistant production models.-VNA
