The Southern Institute for Water Resources Planning has set aside over 7trillion VND (330 million USD) to develop irrigational infrastructurein the Mekong Delta between now and 2020, said its Director Nguyen XuanHien at a recent workshop in Kien Giang province.

The sum issmall compared to more than 19 trillion VND (900 million USD) needed fordeveloping the region’s irrigation system, he said, adding that 12irrigational projects will serve extensive, intensive and semi-intensivefarming of shrimps, fish and rice Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, TraVinh, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An provinces.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thangcalled on irrigational works to be zoned for eco-friendly development,ensuring that they are adaptable to climate change and sea water levelrise.

Under a master plan for irrigational works in the MekongDelta region by 2020, with orientations to 2030, localities lying onthe left bank of Tien Giang river will invest in reservoirs, salinitycontrol and upgrading of coastal dams while those in the Long Xuyenquadruple will finish the construction of irrigational works for VamRang – Ba Hon aquaculture area, and Ha Tien – Rach Gia coastal dyke inKien Giang.

The northern and southern areas of Ca Mau andcoastal areas of Kien Giang will dredge canals and build more seawaterreservoirs.

With over 1.36 million ha possibly used foraquaculture, the Mekong Delta is set to zone off over 805,000 ha by2020, with about 572,000ha for breeding shrimp living in brackish waterin the eight above-mentioned provinces.-VNA