Coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam are encouraged to develop the paddy-shrimp farming model as a solution to saltwater intrusion, said the Department of Cultivation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The model is part of solutions to the sustainable agricultural development of the region which is forecast to be one of the hardest-hit areas by climate change and seawater rise, according to reports.

The department said every year around 100,000 hectares of paddy in the winter-spring crops are affected with saltwater intrusion, accounting for 16% of paddy farming area in the coastal provinces of Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Ben Tre.

Local farmers have recently developed the paddy-shrimp model, or bred shrimp on paddy, to take advantages of the salted water and cut damages in paddy cultivation.

Provincial agencies believed that this is a sustainable and high-economic value model.

The department said the model ensures profits of VND10-30 million (US$528-$1,584) per hectare to the farmers.

The coastal provinces have developed the model on 120,000 hectares, the department said, expecting that the area may be expanded to 200,000 hectares or 250,000 hectares.