Kien Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta region’s rice farming area in the 2018-2019 winter-springcrop is 1.57 million hectares, with production being expected at about 7 tonnesper hectares, but the region is forecast to face drought and salinity,especially in coastal areas.

According to theDepartment of Cultivation under the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which brings about abnormal windand sea level, is likely to switch into El Nino in early 2019.

Meanwhile, the rainy seasonin the southern area may end earlier than the average time in many years. Therefore,coastal areas of the Mekong Delta region are likely to suffer from drought and saltwater intrusion during the crop, with affected rice areas being about 100,000hectares.

To cope with thesituation, the department advised regional localities to reserve water for thecrop, and sow rice between October 2018 and early January 2019. The localitiesshould use high quality and resilient rice varieties such as OM 4900, OM 7347,OM 6976, OM 4218, OM 5451, and Jasmine 85, according to the department.

Coastal areas shouldcultivate extra short-term varieties with strong resilience amidst severe drought,while choosing right cultivation time to avoid salinity.

Meanwhile, the regionshould focus on upgrading major canal systems and reinforcing dykes.

Localities should giveguidelines to local farmers on the sowing time and choosing of varieties, whilekeeping a close eye at weather developments and designing responding plans, thedepartment asked.-VNA