Vietnam Soc Trang Rice Crop Threatened by Saltwater Intrusion
In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, many rice farmers are facing water shortage caused by saltwater intrusion up rivers from the sea.
Many still have late winter-spring rice to harvest because of the high rice prices a few months ago despite warnings from local authorities.
Long Phu District has the largest standing crop in the province of nearly 6,000ha.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Soc Trang Province said that 334ha of rice crop has been affected by alum in the water and suffered 10% to 30% damage, while nearly 74ha are at risk of complete loss.
Danh Ngoc Trieu in the district’s Long Phu Commune said his family planted 10ha of OM5451 rice, and the crop is now at risk due to increasing salinity leading to water shortages.
Lam Dong in the district’s Tan Hung Commune said his family planted nearly 0.5ha of rice but over 50% has been damaged by saltwater intrusion.
In Tran De District, 514ha of late winter-spring rice crop were planted against officials’ advice.
Local authorities are cooperating with relevant agencies to inform farmers about the saline situation, share freshwater, urge them to dig ponds and ditches to store water, and advise them to check salinity levels before irrigation.
According to the Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department in Soc Trang Province, more than 41,000ha of late winter-spring rice were planted, and over 3,000ha face a water shortage.
Tran Vinh Nghi, the department’s head, said to enhance resilience against lack of water and salinity, farmers should apply foliar fertilizers containing calcium and silica.
Soc Trang Province is well-known for its agriculture after significant achievements in rice production in recent years.
With the recognition of ST25 rice as the world's best rice in 2019 and accolades for it in the international market, the value of this variety has increased.
In 2023, Soc Trang’s rice exports topped $450 million, or almost 10% of the country's total.