The Japanese Government will provide $2.08 million in non-fundable aid to help seven coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta region tackle climate change. The localities involving in the one-year project, which has been recently approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, include Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang. The project aims to study and put forth climate change adaptation solutions for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural coastal areas in the Mekong Delta region. It will focus on addressing urgent issues such as flooding, saltwater intrusion and the shortage of fresh water for production and domestic use. Top priority will be given to building saltwater control work, changing crop timetables and reinforcing sea dyke systems to control seawater intrusion and reduce water losses. The Vietnamese Government has also approved a national target program worth more than VND1.9 trillion on climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta, one of the areas in the world most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. (vietnamplus.vn Jun 16)
