Experts have claimed the Mekong Delta will suffer from fiercer drought and saline intrusion this year, as water levels of the region’s rivers are now much lower than normal, due to the late flooding season.

Drought in the Mekong Delta region

According to Dr. Luong Quang Xo, deputy head of the Southern Irrigation Planning Institute, August is usually the flooding season when the rivers are provided with more water, however this year people are still waiting. The water often helps prevent saltwater intrusion, supply alluvial soil and helps clean the land. People can also go fishing for additional money.

Hydropower plant construction has reduced up to 60% of upstream alluvial soil, which has resulted in the smaller floods, leading to more serious drought and saline intrusion.

So far this year, drought and increased salinity have affected the entire Mekong Delta region, damaging around 160,000 ha of rice with a total estimated productivity of 800,000 tonnes.

Dr. Xo said that to help deal with the problem, localities in the region need to increase links in using water resources to control saline intrusion. In reality, currently, there has no a planning management board to connect the Tien and Hau rivers for water regulation.

Many experts suggested that re-zoning farming areas, ensuring water supply for crops and cattle, researching and developing crops with high salt tolerance, and other methods should be used for the Mekong Delta region to cope with the harsh climate.