Climate change has been posing negative impacts on the development of the Mekong Delta, including the rice sector (Photo: VNA)Long An (VNA) – A variety ofmeasures to help the Mekong Delta region better respond to climate change andachieve sustainable agricultural production were proposed at a seminar onDecember 20 in Long An province, part of the third Vietnam Rice Festival.
At an event discussing salt intrusion anddrought in the region, delegates also focused on analysing the impacts ofclimate change on the region’s agricultural production, especially in the rice sector.
Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Dang Tri from CanTho University stated that climate change has been posing negative impacts onthe development of the Mekong Delta. Specifically, the agricultural production outputhas been reduced due to sea-levels rising; a lack of alluvium, mud, and sand;and high risks of salt intrusion and floods.
Therefore, it is necessary to carry out asustainable adaptation strategy through the combination of construction andnon-construction solutions, Tri stressed.
Sharing the same view, Associate Prof. Dr.Nguyen Van Sanh, also from Can Tho University, said that farmers, enterprises,and managers should be truly ‘smart’ in production and business.
He suggested analysing market factors thoroughly,choosing suitable rice varieties, intensifying regional connectivity, improvingproduction technologies, saving water during production, applying greentechnology, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists and enterprises also emphasised theneed to choose rice varieties that are tolerant towards saline water, andreplace more toxic fertilisers with organic fertilisers.
Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, deputy head of theLong An provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmedthat the ideas and recommendations made at the seminar will help statemanagement offices to issue appropriate policies and mechanisms to developagriculture sustainably, thus helping enterprises and farmers define theirdirection in agricultural production as adaptive to climate change. –VNA
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