Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Tien Giang (VNA) – TheMekong Delta province of Tien Giang plans to invest nearly 1.4 trillion VND (62million USD) in restructuring agricultural production in the province’s easternpart, part of efforts to reduce damage caused by drought and saline intrusion.
According to Cao Van Hoa, actingdirector of the provincial Department of Agriculture, and Rural Development, therestructuring will be implemented from 2016-2020 in 30,000 ha of farm landacross 38 communes, three wards and four towns in Cho Gao, Go Cong Tay, Go CongDong and Tan Phu Dong districts, and Go Cong township.
The project aims to optimise theuse of cultivating land by changing the pattern of crops and multiplying intensivefarming models while promoting switching to plants resistant to forecastchanges in climate.
Local farmers will be encouragedto reduce the cultivation of rice from three crops to two crops a year usingintensive farming techniques. In areas along rivers and the coast with highrisks of saline intrusion, rice will be replaced by fruit trees, grass foranimal husbandry or aquaculture farms.
To serve the project, theprovince has invested nearly 50 billion VND (2.25 million USD) to dredge andupgrade Canal 14, which is the main channel bringing fresh water from Tienriver to coastal communes in Go Cong Dong district and Go Cong township.
Tien Giang is also buildingthree sluices to prevent saline intrusion and store fresh water in Go Cong areawith capital of 89 billion VND (4 million USD). The sluices are expected to becompleted within this year.-VNA
