Vietnam is grappling with significant agricultural challenges as saltwater intrusion threatens the Mekong Delta, leading to potential annual crop losses nearing $3 billion. This phenomenon, exacerbated by factors such as sea-level rise, droughts, tidal fluctuations, and reduced upstream freshwater flow, is putting critical agricultural areas at risk.
The Water Resources Science Institute, affiliated with the environment ministry, highlighted these concerns, emphasizing the severe impacts on provinces like Ca Mau and Ben Tre. Ca Mau alone could see losses estimated at $665 million, while Ben Tre might face around $472 million in damages. The research underscores the vulnerability of various crops, with fruit trees constituting 29% of the damage, other crops 27%, and rice nearly 14%. These findings were shared at a recent conference focusing on water resource management, reflecting the urgent need for strategies to mitigate the effects of saltwater intrusion on Vietnam's agriculture.
Source: voanews.com
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