Sóc Trăng Province's authority checks the salinity level of a local canal. Many rice fields have recently been at risk of damage due to saltwater intrusion. — VNA/VNS Photo

SÓC TRĂNG — In Sóc Trăng Province, many rice farmers are facing water shortage caused by saltwater intrusion up rivers from the sea.

Many still have late winter-spring rice to harvest because of the high rice prices a few months ago despite warnings from local authorities.

Long Phú District has the largest standing crop in the province of nearly 6,000ha. 

Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Sóc Trăng Province said that 334ha of rice crop has been affected by alum in the water and suffered 10 to 30 per cent damage, while nearly 74ha are at risk of complete loss.

Danh Ngọc Triệu in the district’s Long Phú Commune said his family planted 10ha of OM5451 rice, and the crop is now at risk due to increasing salinity leading to water shortages.

Lâm Đông in the district’s Tân Hưng Commune said his family planted nearly 0.5ha of rice but over 50 per cent has been damaged by saltwater intrusion.

In Trần Đề District, 514ha of late winter-spring rice crop were planted against officials’ advice. 

Local authorities are cooperating with relevant agencies to inform farmers about the saline situation, share freshwater, urge them to dig ponds and ditches to store water, and advise them to check salinity levels before irrigation.

According to the Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department in Sóc Trăng Province, more than 41,000ha of late winter-spring rice were planted, and over 3,000ha face a water shortage.

Trần Vĩnh Nghi, the department’s head, said to enhance resilience against lack of water and salinity, farmers should apply foliar fertilisers containing calcium and silica. 

Sóc Trăng Province is well-known for its agriculture after significant achievements in rice production in recent years. 

With the recognition of ST25 rice as the world's best rice in 2019 and accolades for it in the international market, the value of this variety has increased.

In 2023, Sóc Trăng’s rice exports topped US$450 million, or almost 10 per cent of the country's total.  VNS