Vietnam faces over $3 billion in crop losses each year as more saltwater creeps into arable land, according to official media on Sunday, citing new study.
According to research conducted by the country’s environment ministry, the damage would most likely be concentrated in the Mekong Delta region, known as “Vietnam’s rice bowl” because it provides food and livelihoods for tens of millions of people.
Saltwater levels are typically greater during the dry season, but they are increasing due to rising sea levels, droughts, tidal oscillations, and a shortage of upstream freshwater.
The consequent crop losses might total 70 trillion dong ($2.94 billion), according to state media VnExpress, citing new study from the Environment Ministry’s Water Resources Science Institute.
According to the analysis, the southernmost Ca Mau province might lose $665 million.
According to the analysis, which was presented Friday at a water resource management conference, Ben Tre province could lose almost $472 million in total.

“With the current scenario, fruit trees account for 29 percent of the damage in Mekong Delta, while crops account for 27 percent, and rice accounts for nearly 14 percent,” according to the report’s results.
“The fisheries industry accounts for 30 percent, equivalent to more than 21,000 billion dong ($840 million),” according to the report.
The region is expected to incur greater losses in the future, totaling more than $3.1 billion, according to the report.
Earlier this month, the Department of Water Resources warned that saline intrusion could affect around 80,000 hectares of rice and fruit fields in the Mekong Delta.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that salt intrusion in the area between 2023 and 2024 was higher than typical.
The delta saw an abnormally lengthy heatwave in February, resulting in drought in some parts and low water levels in the region’s canals.