Environment

Drought, saltwater intrusion threatens farming, local life in Mekong Delta

Saline intrusion has occurred earlier than normal in the Mekong Delta and is expected to affect a greater area this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Drought, saltwater intrusion threatens farming, local life in Mekong Delta ảnh 1A rice field affected by drought and saltwater intrusion in Vi Thuy district, the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang (Photo: VNA)


Hanoi (VNA) – Saline intrusion has occurred earlier than normal in the Mekong Delta and is expected to affect a greater area this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In a report submitted to the Prime Minister on February 13, the ministersaid saltwater intrusion is at a peak now since the beginning of the dryseason. Saltwater has gone up 100-110km up the Vam Co river, 20-22km furtherthan the salinity intrusion in normal years and 4-6 km further than level atthe same time in 2016, the year with record salinity intrusion.

In the western coastal region, the salinity intrusion in Cai Lon riverhas reached 61km inland, 12km further than average, and 5km more than the levelat the same time in 2016.

Saltwater intrusion will seriously affect local agricultural production anddaily life of residents. It is forecast that the situation will not improveuntil the end of April.

The MARD noted that it had worked with local administrations toaccelerate the pace of construction projects to cope with salinity intrusion. Fiveprojects were put into operation in December 2019 and January 2020, protecting83,000 ha of land from  saltwaterintrusion and helping with curb the impact of saltwater for 300,000 hectares. 

Several other projects are still underway, which will ensure bettercontrol of saltwater intrusion, such as the irrigation systems in north Ben Tre,Cai Lon-Cai Be rivers and Long Xuyen Quardruple.

About 94,000 ha of rice fields in nine coastal provinces are likely tobe affected by drought and saltwater if water supply runs short in the firsthalf of March. Localities are working to store water and put measures in placeto cope with the threat.

The ministry has recommended that farmers delay the sowing of Summer-Autumn rice until saltwater intrusion subsides.

Besides, 79,700 households are facing water shortage for daily life.Localities are drilling more wells and drafting plans to supply water forresidents.

The ministry said it will call on international organisations andprivate companies to help provide water tanks and water treatment devices for peopleaffected by water shortage.

The MARD asked the Prime Minister to consider including funding formeasures countering drought and saltwater intrusion in the resolution of theGovernment’s regular February meeting.

The PM has continued to require ministries and agencies to assistlocalities in addressing the problem of saline intrusion to minimise losses inagricultural production and ensure water for local people’s daily life./.

VNA
#drought #saltwater intrusion #Mekong Delta #Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development #dry season #agricultural production #updated Vietnam news #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Saltwater encroaches deep into Mekong Delta

Saltwater encroaches deep into Mekong Delta

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has forecast saltwater intrusion for 10 of the 13 provincial-level localities in the Mekong Delta this dry season, and the phenomenon has already appeared in eight so far.
Mekong Delta takes measures to reduce saltwater intrusion

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 as authorities and farmers have taken measures to cope with the situation in the 2019-2020 dry season.

See more

Officers release the rare elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) back into its natural habitat in the Ta Thiet historical forest area. (Photo: VNA)

Rare elongated tortoise released into the wild in Dong Nai

The elongated tortoise is one of the most beautiful and rare terrestrial tortoise species, listed in both the Vietnam Red Data Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It typically inhabits tropical and subtropical forests and plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. However, due to illegal trade and habitat loss, its wild population has been declining sharply.

Cai Khe ward of Can Tho city is under water after a storm (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho pushes JICA-funded drainage project to deliver results in 18 months

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded technical cooperation project on drainage management for climate resilience in Can Tho aims to improve planning capacity for wastewater collection, enhance operations and management of existing treatment plants, and the city’s ability to run public awareness campaigns.

Plastic waste poses a growing challenge to communities and societies around the world, including Vietnam. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Wide range of activities planned for 2026 environment and marine awareness campaign

A series of environmental and marine-related events to held in the central province of Nghe An from June 4-6 will generate a broad social impact, helping transform awareness into action and commitments into concrete results, and contributing to Vietnam’s goals of green growth, circular economy development, net-zero emissions and harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

At the working session (Photo: VNA)

AFD, Lang Son move to fast-track climate resilience project

The climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure project in Lang Son consists of two main components, focusing on sustainable infrastructure and environmental improvement; and technical assistance and capacity building, with AFD experts expected to train project management officials and local agencies in disaster response and climate adaptation.

People wear sun-protective clothing when going outside in Quang Ninh province. (Photo: VNA)

Forecast of more intense heat and complex typhoons in summer

The number and activity of tropical cyclones and depressions over the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, and their direct impacts on mainland Vietnam are expected to be comparable to the multi-year average. The long-term average over the East Sea is 5.2 typhoons, with 1.9 making landfall.

An overview of the seminar reviewing the project’s implementation during the 2021–2026 period (Photo: VNA)

Hue project prevents over 933 tonnes of plastic waste leakage

Launched in 2021 with funding from the Norwegian people through WWF-Norway and WWF-Vietnam, the “Hue – Plastic Smart City in Central Vietnam” project aims to help Hue protect rivers, wetlands and coastal ecosystems from plastic pollution while building the city into a model plastic-reduced urban area in central Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Quoc Tri speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam diversifies financing mechanisms for nature conservation

Initiatives on biodiversity finance, carbon credits, public – private partnerships, nature-based tourism, and private sector investment are creating more opportunities to increase resources for ecosystem conservation and restoration, said an official.

The Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Reserve spans more than 106 hectares and is set to be expanded by an additional 60 hectares in the near future. (Photo: VNA)

Local initiatives drive Vietnam’s push to protect biodiversity for sustainable future

Vietnam has established a network of 180 terrestrial and marine nature reserve covering more than 2.67 million hectares. These sites are being further strengthened to improve ecological connectivity, restore habitats and conserve endangered species. Forest cover remains stable at over 42%, contributing to water protection, climate adaptation and carbon absorption.

All the animals underwent health checks and assessments of their ability to adapt to the natural environment before being safely released. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri releases 13 wild animals back into nature

The animals included two masked palm civets, four stump-tailed macaques, and seven rhesus macaques. All belong to Group IIB under Circular No. 85/2025/TT-BNNMT issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on the management of endangered, precious and rare species, as well as the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The clouded monitor (Varanus nebulosus) weighs approximately two kilograms and measures around 70 centimetres in length. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri hands over rare clouded monitor to rescue centre

The animal was identified as a clouded monitor (Varanus nebulosus), weighing approximately two kilograms and measuring around 70 centimetres in length. The species belongs to Group IB — a category of endangered and rare forest wildlife species given the highest level of protection in Vietnam, with all forms of commercial exploitation and use strictly prohibited.

The female stump-tailed macaque undergoes a health check by authorities before being released back into the wild. (Photo published VNA)

Rare stump-tailed macaque released into the wild

The stump-tailed macaque, scientifically known as Macaca arctoides, is classified as a rare and endangered species under Group IIB in Vietnam’s regulations on endangered wildlife management.

A graphic image of the Nui Thoong high-tech waste treatment and waste-to-energy plant project. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

Hanoi breaks ground on 200-million-USD waste-to-energy plant

Designed to process 2,000 tonnes of waste per day and generate 45MW of electricity for the national grid, the project is the first high-tech waste-to-energy plant in southwestern Hanoi, where large-scale solid waste treatment facilities have long been lacking.

After undergoing health checks, all three sea turtles are released back into their natural habitat in the presence of authorities, local residents and tourists. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri authorities release three endangered sea turtles back to the wild

The three turtles, each weighing around 1.5 kilogrammes with shells measuring about 25 centimetres long and 20 centimetres wide, are green sea turtles. They were accidentally caught in fishing nets and found drifting at sea near Con Co waters on May 16 by fisherman Bui Dinh Thuy in Cua Viet commune during a fishing trip.