April 5, 2024

 

Vietnam to suffer US$2.83 billion agricultural losses over decade due to saline intrusion in Mekong Delta, survey finds

 

 

Saline intrusion in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region could cause US$2.82 billion in agricultural losses over a 10-year period, according to a recent survey.

 

Scientists from the Institute of Water Resources have conducted a study to estimate the damages caused by saline intrusion in the region.

 

Their findings reveal that, under the current scenario, the total current damage during the last decade amounts to approximately ₫70.168 trillion (US$2.8 billion) encompassing losses in agricultural activities such as fruit trees, flowers, rice and aquaculture.

 

Furthermore, scientists projected potential damages caused by saline intrusion for the years 2030, 2040, and 2050, estimating losses of ₫72.385 trillion (US$2.91 billion), ₫73.250 trillion (US$2.95 billion) and ₫76.485 trillion (US$3.08 billion) , respectively.

 

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, said that although he had only recently been made aware of the survey results, any damages to agricultural production would likely not be significant, including those affecting crops, livestock and aquaculture.

 

According to the latest assessment by the Irrigation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there has been an increasing trend in saline intrusion since March 22, continuing until at least March 28 this year. Salinity levels of 4g/l have been recorded from 45km to 55km at the river mouths of the Mekong Delta, from 80km to 85km on the Vàm Cỏ River and from 46km to 52km on the Cái Lớn River.

 

Based on these observations, the department assesses that the risk of drought and salinity intrusion in the dry season of 2023-2024 is higher than the average of many years and the dry season of 2022-2023, though not as severe as in 2015-2016 and 2019-2020.

 

Since late January this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Directive No 661/CT-BNN-TL, aimed at strengthening the implementation of measures to prevent and control drought, water shortages and saline intrusion in order to support agricultural production and livelihoods during the dry season of 2023-2024.

 

The Irrigation Department is currently working with scientific research units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to enhance monitoring of upstream information from the Mekong River, update water source developments and assess the water situation and saline intrusion in 2024. These efforts aim to provide timely information to support efforts in preventing, controlling and mitigating damages caused by drought and salinity.

 

- VNS