The Mekong Delta (MD) is facing an increasing shortage of freshwater due to climate change and the depletion of the Mekong River. According to data, 95% of the Mekong Delta's water resources come from the Mekong River, and only 5% are endogenous.
Currently, saltwater intrusion is becoming increasingly serious, affecting agricultural production and people's lives. Even forcing Ca Mau farmers to switch to saline-tolerant farming models such as rice-shrimp. However, this model also carries many great risks, with up to 50% of the area damaged in some years.
According to Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee and Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan,Former Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Climate Change Research Institute, to ensure water security, we need to have synchronous solutions as follows:
- Use water sparingly: Switch to appropriate production models and conserve natural water storage spaces.
- Build water storage works: Improve the water storage capacity of the canal system to meet the year-round demand.
- Production zoning: Divide into saline, sweet and brackish production zones according to actual conditions. However, it is necessary to have an irrigation infrastructure system to serve this planning, to regulate the two sources of saline and fresh water to ensure production in each region.
The Mekong Delta is not short of water, the amount of water in the dry season in the Mekong Delta is still abundant.However, to use water effectively throughout the year, everyone needs to actively join hands to ensure water resources.
