Farmers in a commune in the Mekong delta province of Kien Giang haveimproved agricultural production after learning about climate change,scientists said at a conference held by the Mekong River Commissionrecently.
To Quang Toan, deputy head of the SouthernInstitute of Water Resources Research's Department of Training andInternational Co-operation, said the unusual weather changes in recentyears, partly contributed by climate change, had affected production inthe Mekong Delta.
"There was an increase in unusually hotdays and unusual rains in the delta during recent years. The unusualrains in the delta in March 2009 or January last year caused huge lossesto farmers who cultivate vegetable or flowers in the region," he said.
Since 2003, there have been no high floods in the delta, partly due toclimate changes that have resulted in low rainfall and because ofupstream water dam.
The low rainfall and the low level of water from upstream dams had contributed to salinity intrusion, Toan added.
Community-based action plans have been adapted to climate changeconditions in Binh Giang commune in Hon Dat district of Kien Giangprovince.
Since 2005, the commune's paddy yield increased,thanks to the local government and people who developed and carried outaction plans to adapt to climate change.
Toan, who tookpart in the survey of Binh Giang, said about a decade ago, residents inthe locality had limited awareness about climate change and sea levelchanges and its effect on farming.
Before 1996, thecommune of 3,660 households did not have a flood control system and hadno facility for salinity intrusion prevention, such as a sluice gate.
Farmers had only one main rice crop each year. Salinity intrusion,acidic water and drought caused significant impact to their farm.
Between 1996 and 2000, a flood control system was implemented. The T5,T6 and 8,000 canals contributed to the improvement of water resourcesand soil conditions.
Five years after that, the localitycompleted a salinity prevention system and farmers here had two to threerice crops a year, and farm land was expanded.
Farmland stood at 5,400 ha in 2004 and expanded to roughly 22,000ha last year.
Since 1996, besides developing canal systems for releasing water to thesea, Kien Giang province in general and the commune have receivedbenefits from other projects carried out by the local government,including tap water supply, transport system development, and projectsto enhance community awareness about climate change.
However, there was still a problem of salinity intrusion related to theoperation of the sluice, cultivation and drought conditions, he said,adding that the annual yield increased to 116,000 tonnes last year, from25,000 tonnes in 2004.
"Residents in the commune now likethe dyke and irrigation systems in their localities. Many families haverotated cultivating paddy, instead of aquaculture previously," Toansaid, adding that the land for cultivation had been expanded thanks toclimate change adaptation.
Mangrove forests have not developed well and there are only 165 ha of protective forest.
"We have done a survey in the commune in 2010, with the aim to recordexperiences and build a climate change adaptation model, which will beapplied to other areas with support from international institutes."
The local residents' awareness about climate change and rising sealevels improved after information programmes were offered by the localgovernment.
Climate change adaptation in Kien Giangprovince is a matter of urgency as most people live in low-lying areasvulnerable to rising sea levels and increasing frequency and intensityof natural disasters, such as storms and floods.
Theadaptive capacity of local communities has been enhanced bymainstreaming climate adaptation management across planning anddevelopment processes, by increasing resilience of infrastructure andlivelihoods, and by providing high quality information.
The Mekong Delta, which is flat and low, has a total area of 3.9 millionha, of which 2.4 million hectares are agriculture land.
The main rice bowl of Vietnam, which contributes 40 percent of thenational food outputs, and more than 85 percent of annual exported ricevolume, is considered one of the most vulnerable regions in the world tothe impact of climate change./.
To Quang Toan, deputy head of the SouthernInstitute of Water Resources Research's Department of Training andInternational Co-operation, said the unusual weather changes in recentyears, partly contributed by climate change, had affected production inthe Mekong Delta.
"There was an increase in unusually hotdays and unusual rains in the delta during recent years. The unusualrains in the delta in March 2009 or January last year caused huge lossesto farmers who cultivate vegetable or flowers in the region," he said.
Since 2003, there have been no high floods in the delta, partly due toclimate changes that have resulted in low rainfall and because ofupstream water dam.
The low rainfall and the low level of water from upstream dams had contributed to salinity intrusion, Toan added.
Community-based action plans have been adapted to climate changeconditions in Binh Giang commune in Hon Dat district of Kien Giangprovince.
Since 2005, the commune's paddy yield increased,thanks to the local government and people who developed and carried outaction plans to adapt to climate change.
Toan, who tookpart in the survey of Binh Giang, said about a decade ago, residents inthe locality had limited awareness about climate change and sea levelchanges and its effect on farming.
Before 1996, thecommune of 3,660 households did not have a flood control system and hadno facility for salinity intrusion prevention, such as a sluice gate.
Farmers had only one main rice crop each year. Salinity intrusion,acidic water and drought caused significant impact to their farm.
Between 1996 and 2000, a flood control system was implemented. The T5,T6 and 8,000 canals contributed to the improvement of water resourcesand soil conditions.
Five years after that, the localitycompleted a salinity prevention system and farmers here had two to threerice crops a year, and farm land was expanded.
Farmland stood at 5,400 ha in 2004 and expanded to roughly 22,000ha last year.
Since 1996, besides developing canal systems for releasing water to thesea, Kien Giang province in general and the commune have receivedbenefits from other projects carried out by the local government,including tap water supply, transport system development, and projectsto enhance community awareness about climate change.
However, there was still a problem of salinity intrusion related to theoperation of the sluice, cultivation and drought conditions, he said,adding that the annual yield increased to 116,000 tonnes last year, from25,000 tonnes in 2004.
"Residents in the commune now likethe dyke and irrigation systems in their localities. Many families haverotated cultivating paddy, instead of aquaculture previously," Toansaid, adding that the land for cultivation had been expanded thanks toclimate change adaptation.
Mangrove forests have not developed well and there are only 165 ha of protective forest.
"We have done a survey in the commune in 2010, with the aim to recordexperiences and build a climate change adaptation model, which will beapplied to other areas with support from international institutes."
The local residents' awareness about climate change and rising sealevels improved after information programmes were offered by the localgovernment.
Climate change adaptation in Kien Giangprovince is a matter of urgency as most people live in low-lying areasvulnerable to rising sea levels and increasing frequency and intensityof natural disasters, such as storms and floods.
Theadaptive capacity of local communities has been enhanced bymainstreaming climate adaptation management across planning anddevelopment processes, by increasing resilience of infrastructure andlivelihoods, and by providing high quality information.
The Mekong Delta, which is flat and low, has a total area of 3.9 millionha, of which 2.4 million hectares are agriculture land.
The main rice bowl of Vietnam, which contributes 40 percent of thenational food outputs, and more than 85 percent of annual exported ricevolume, is considered one of the most vulnerable regions in the world tothe impact of climate change./.
