Saltwater intrusion worsens in Mekong Delta

HCM CITY — Saltwater intrusion has begun to increase in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta’s rivers, affecting irrigation of crops. In the Vàm Cỏ Đông and Vàm Cỏ Tây rivers, saltwater has reached 65-70km deep, 5-7km more than at this time last year, it said. The delta, the country’s largest rice, fruit and seafood producer, has 1.5 million hectares under the crop. Kiên Giang Province, the country’s largest rice producer, is dredging irrigation canals to increase their capacity. The country’s largest fruit producing province encourages farmers to store water in ponds dug in fruit orchards and fields and use it efficiently.