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<\/p>\nHCM CITY \u2013 The C\u1eedu Long (Mekong) Delta has protected its winter-spring crops from saltwater intrusion and drought by taking preventive measures in the ongoing dry season.<\/p>\n
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Speaking at a meeting in C\u1ea7n Th\u01a1 City last week, L\u00ea Thanh T\u00f9ng, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development\u2019s Plant Cultivation Department, said the yield and quality of the crop, especially in the delta\u2019s coastal areas, would not be adversely affected.<\/p>\n
These achievements were the results of localities taking measures such as sowing the winter \u2013 spring rice crop earlier than usual and growing short-term rice varieties, he said.<\/p>\n
The delta, the country\u2019s largest rice producer, sowed about 1.5 million hectares of rice for the 2020 – 21 winter \u2013 spring crop. Farmers have harvested about 350,000ha so far, according to the Plant Cultivation Department. Harvesting of the remaining rice areas will be done until May.<\/p>\n
The winter \u2013 spring rice is estimated to have an average yield of more than 6.9 tonnes per hectare, up nearly 100 kilogrammes against the last winter \u2013 spring rice crop. Farmers in the delta are getting good prices, at VN\u01106,800 \u2013 7,500 a kilo.<\/p>\n
Only small winter \u2013 spring rice areas in some provinces like Tr\u00e0 Vinh, Long An and B\u1ea1c Li\u00eau will face saltwater intrusion and drought at the end of the crop, according to the South Institute of Water Resources Research.<\/p>\n
In recent years, saltwater intrusion from the sea through river mouths has severely affected agricultural production in the dry season.<\/p>\n
The peak of saltwater intrusion will occur between February 25 and March 4, and the level is estimated to equal to the 2016 figure but lower than last year’s level, according to the South Institute of Water Resources Research.<\/p>\n
The Plant Cultivation Department has told delta localities to store fresh water through various means like irrigation reservoirs. Water resources need to be ensured for freshwater and brackish-water areas in the delta\u2019s central region, and fresh water should be stored in coastal areas.<\/p>\n
The delta accounts for 47 per cent of the country\u2019s total rice farming land and produces 56 per cent of the country\u2019s rice output. It contributes up to 90 per cent of the country\u2019s rice export volume.\u2013 VNS<\/p>\n
Source: Vietnamnews<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"