Immediate measures and long-term plans should be implemented quickly to help provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta cope with drought and saline intrusion, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh has said. Mekong Delta may face saline intrusion months earlier than normal Drought, saltwater intrusion hits Mekong Delta sooner than expected Saline intrusion threatens Mekong Delta A river in Bac Lieu Province has begun to dry up due to a lack of water. — VNS Photo Ngoc Diep Thanh has asked the ministry’s Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration to improve the monitoring of water flows and salinity rates in the delta’s coastal provinces and cities. “They need to improve the quality of the forecasting systems and provide detailed assessment of impacts of natural disasters, drought and saltwater intrusion on industries such as agriculture and water supply systems,” he said. He said the meteorological … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Mekong Delta needs urgent measures to prevent drought, saline-intrusion
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Mekong Delta agriculture adapts to climate change
Growing flowers and ornamental plants in Đồng Tháp Province’s Sa Đéc City. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp HCM CITY — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta has restructured agriculture towards climate-change adaptation and market demand by establishing specialised farming areas for its key agricultural products, and by growing other crops on ineffective rice fields or rotating rice with other crops on the same field. The delta, the country’s largest rice, seafood and fruit producer, achieved a growth rate of 3 per cent a year between 2016 and 2018, higher than the country’s average growth rate of 2.67 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In An Giang Province, local authorities and farmers have set up specialised farming areas and used advanced farming techniques in recent years. The province has established a 25,000ha specialised glutinous-rice area in Phú Tân … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta agriculture adapts to climate change
Mekong Delta targets agrotourism development
The Ngã Bảy floating market in Hậu Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Ba HCM CITY — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Hậu Giang plans to focus on sustainable agricultural tourism as part of its effort to lure tourists to the Mekong Delta region. Speaking at a conference held this week in the province, Lê Tiến Châu, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the tourism sector played a vital role in the area's socio-economic development. Over the past five years, the province has developed key projects related to tourism infrastructure and products, and has strengthened linkages with travel firms in other provinces. It has also enhanced tourism promotional activities. However, the area's potential for agrotourism has yet to be realised. Nguyễn Thị Lý, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta targets agrotourism development
France braces for holiday misery as pension strike persists
Commuters on the Paris metro faced another day of travel havoc Thursday as unions pressed their strike against a planned pension reform. (Photo: AFP/Philippe LOPEZ) Officials have said they are ready to negotiate, with Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer meeting teachers' representatives on Friday to try to stave off another day of class shutdowns. "It was an intense and frank meeting ... but we still need details, and maintain our call to strike on Tuesday," Stephane Crochet of the SE-Unsa teachers' union said. Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995, when they forced a rightwing government to back down on pension reforms after three weeks of metro and rail strikes just before Christmas. The prospect of a protracted standoff has businesses fearing big losses during the crucial year-end festivities, and travellers worried that their holiday plans are compromised. "Right now it's a catastrophe here, but we're hoping there will be a solution before Christmas," Frederic Masse, a … [Read more...] about France braces for holiday misery as pension strike persists
Hương Canh ceramic village
Aritisant Nguyễn Hồng Quang works on a ceramic jar. — VNA/VNS Photos Hoàng Hùng Hương Canh ceramic village in Bình Xuyên District, Vĩnh Phúc Province has been famed for its products for more than 300 years. Craftsmen at the village make various ceramic products like pots, jars and food containers of various sizes. Legends have it that more than 300 years ago, after a war, mandarin Trịnh Xuân Biên of the Lê – Trịnh reign visited the site and realised how poor local people were. Customers choose products to buy at a local workshop. He learned the local soil was suitable to making ceramics and he then taught locals how to farm and produce ceramic wares. Though the ceramic handicraft trade in Viet Nam was born later in other villages, people like the simple products from Hương Canh due to the special local green clay that doesn't need a glaze but is still … [Read more...] about Hương Canh ceramic village