Hanoi (VNA) - Inspite of challenges caused by saline intrusion and COVID-19, rice cultivationin the Mekong Delta must ensure domestic supply and take opportunitiesfor export, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development LeQuoc Doanh.

At a recent online conferenceto review the region’s rice growing in the winter-spring crop, Doanhhighlighted the determination of the agricultural sector not to suffer fromlosses in the coming summer-autumn and autumn-winter crops.

During the 2019-2020winter-spring rice season, the Mekong Delta harvested 11.3 million tonnes ofrice in conditions of severe drought and saline intrusion.

The positive outcome wasachieved thanks to weather predictions by the agricultural ministry, whichled to the order of early cultivation in October and November.

The ministry also asked farmersto prioritise quality rice for export and types of rice which can be harvestedin the short term.

Thanks to the plans, farmerscould harvest rice early, helping rescue more than 200,000 ha of rice fromsevere drought.
Doanh said the sector muststick to the target of ensuring food security for domestic demand and export inthe coming seasons and foresee risks posed by saline intrusion, epidemics andnatural disasters.

He said the seriousdrought and saline intrusion are predicted to continue in thesummer-autumn season. Farmers who are not affected by the intrusion must startto grow their plants early. So far, 400,000 ha of rice in the summer-autumnseason has been cultivated in the region.

Farmers in the coastal areassuffering from saline intrusion should not hastily grow plants now,but wait until the salt level falls, he said.

According to the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development, the southern region plans to grow 1.6million ha of rice in the summer-autumn season.

The Mekong Delta region willgrow 750,000 ha of rice in the autumn-winter season this year./.