Mekong Delta to expand fruit, seafood production in response to climate change

The Mekong Delta plans an additional 450,000ha under fruit and seafood production by 2030 as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s effort to shift the region’s farming model toward more sustainable agriculture practices.

The region plans to reduce rice farming areas and expand areas producing fruit and seafood in an effort to respond to climate change.

Rice export turnover is estimated at 1.9 billion USD for the first seven months of this year, a year-on year increase of 10.9 percent. Rice production, however, will be reduced to meet sustainable agriculture and climate-change adaptation by 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Under the plan, by 2030 the delta will have about 1.6 million hectares of rice farming areas, a decrease of 300,000ha. Paddy output will reach 17.3 million tonnes per year, down 6.3 million tonnes.

Unproductive rice fields due to saline intrusion will be shifted to fruit tree production.

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VNA