Authorities from the Mekong Delta region are gearing up for potential challenges posed by rising saltwater intrusion during the upcoming dry season of 2024-2025. With the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicting significant saltwater encroachment from February through April, provinces like Tiền Giang and Sóc Trăng are proactively implementing strategies to protect agricultural production and the livelihoods of local residents.
Experts forecast the intrusion to surpass average levels, particularly affecting key areas such as Tiền Giang, Sóc Trăng, and Cà Mau. They anticipate the salty waters to penetrate deeply along the Mekong Delta rivers, potentially disrupting both social and economic development. According to the regional weather station, the maximum salinity levels expected on the Hau River are between 23.8 and 25.8 parts per thousand (‰), with the most affected areas experiencing continued high salinity levels due to freshwater shortages from upstream.
Phùng Tiến Dũng, the head of the hydro-meteorological forecasting department, revealed patterns of saltwater intrusion could peak only after fluctuations, highlighting the urgency for timely alert systems to warn farmers and residents. He noted, "The trend of saltwater intrusion will decrease initially but peak significantly as we enter the second half of the week, particularly affecting the southeastern coastal areas.”
This year, authorities from Sóc Trăng province are taking swift action, operating over 30 salinity control sluices. These sluices, particularly the larger ones, are central to their saltwater intrusion management, with strategic adjustments made to tackle specific areas likely to be affected most severely. The province plans to repair and maintain its irrigation technologies to thwart additional ecological damage.
The situation is equally pressing for Tiền Giang, where salinity impacts are pushing upstream, already reaching depths of 40 to 48 kilometers from the coast. Local farmers have been encouraged to adopt alternative crop rotations, shifting from late-season rice planting to more resilient crops likely to thrive under salinity conditions.
Prior to this summer, experts are urging local communities to conserve freshwater resources effectively. Local governments are implementing new agricultural guidelines, advising against water-intensive crops and campaigns encouraging the installation of saltwater filtration systems for domestic and agricultural use.
"We encourage farmers to continuously monitor salt levels and adjust their farming practices accordingly, which may include using salt-resistant plant varieties or seasonal crops," mentioned local agricultural officials during recent public consultations. They highlighted the need for quick adaptability as salinity levels fluctuate.
Reflecting on lessons learned from previous dry seasons, urban authorities are orchestratively working to rehabilitate irrigation systems. Ongoing repairs are being made to dikes and other flood defenses across the province, targeting maximum efficiency to manage both freshwater allocation and flood control during times of heavy rainfall.
These preventive measures are timely as the 2024-2025 dry season is expected to present challenges possibly greater than those experienced during the severely disastrous years of 2015-2016 or 2019-2020, albeit not at the same intensity. "It is not just about waiting out the dry seasons anymore; we need to formulate comprehensive, long-term responses," says Dũng.
With the Mekong River's upstream water flow heavily affecting conditions, regional governments are urged to assess freshwater supplies and coordinate with upstream countries to collaborate on transboundary water resource management.
Local officials are set on keeping communities informed and prepared for fluctuational salinity conditions. They recommend collecting rainwater during low tides and managing agricultural tasks to minimize the impact of salinity, advocating for timely alerts to all relevant weather developments.
Strengthened resilience against salinity intrusion demonstrates the commitment of Vietnamese provinces to safeguarding their agricultural biodiversity and maintaining socio-economic stability. Through continuous community engagement and proactive stakeholders' involvement, the challenges presented by saltwater intrusion could be effectively mitigated.
Overall, the anticipation of potential difficulties during the 2024-2025 dry season has catalyzed innovative approaches among local authorities and farmers alike—asserting the importance of readiness amid environmental changes.