According to the Ministry, in 2019, farmers in the Mekong delta have switched 77,885 hectares of low yield rice area into growing other crops with high yield.
The restructuring of agricultural production in the region has achieved positive result because farmers earned higher income of VND17,718 billion ($764.7 million) including profits of VND10,672 billion.
In addition, after switching to grow another crop in ineffective rice fields, farmers have saved irrigation water and cost of pumping, equipment and labor.
Specifically, of 77,885 hectares, around 64,523 hectares are for growing vegetables, approximately 12,593 hectares for growing orchard and 768 hectares for breeding aquatic species.
For instance, jackfruits are grown in 4,728 hectares, mango in 1,470 hectares, special orange in 1,470 hectares, and dragon fruit in 1,234 hectares. Fruits bring a turnover of over VND607 million per hectare while rice brings VND386 million per hectare.
Because of the low price of rice and the risk of saltwater intrusion in the Mekong delta in the upcoming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development advised farmers to continue switching land for growing rice, in case of low yields, into growing other crops with high yield or breeding aquatic species in order to raise farmers’ income and adapt to climate change.
