Ca Mau braces for saltwater intrusion, drought
Local people in the southernmost coastal province of Ca Mau have created 500 embankments to shield their farming fields from saltwater in an effort to deal with unprecedented severe saline intrusion.
According to local official reports, up to 70% of 23,000 hectares grown with rice was damaged by saline intrusion.
The salty condition also harmed more than 2,000 hectares of vegetables and fruit trees.
Meanwhile, a hash drought is occurring, drying out 43,000 hectares of cajuput forests, which poses a high risk of fires.
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As the drought is forecast to prolong until May, Ca Mau’s authorities urged locals to save water and restrict out-of-season shrimp breeding.
Limited forest access and a contemporary ban on the extraction of honey in the wild are issued as fire precautions. Residents and forest rangers are put on high alert, watching out for any possible fires.
