Mekong Delta Rice Crop Takes A Hit From Saltwater Intrusion; Rising Seas, Failing River Flows
Many rice farmers in Ben Tre Province have started harvesting their immature rice plants after little rainfall and no flooding for the first time ever exposed their crops to river-borne salinity early.
Without water, the rice seeds cannot grow any bigger, they said. “It’s my worst year ever,” Nguyen Van Nhan, who has been growing rice for dozens of years, told Tuoi Tre newspaper.
The Hau and Tien Rivers, tributaries of the Mekong and the main source of fresh water in the region, have become unfit for irrigation after salinity levels – due to encroachment by seawater -- exceeded 5‰, way above the level of 1-2‰ at this time last year. Many farmers have left their fields fallow since they were not able to get much freshwater during what has been the strongest El Nino year in two decades, even stronger than in 1997 and 1998.
Meteorologists have warned that the intense conditions will continue into spring next year and could wreak havoc, especially in East Asia-Pacific countries.
EDIT
http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/river-salinity-from-sea-badly-hits-mekong-delta-rice-crop-57092.html
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