Honeydew melons grown in membrane houses and watered by a drip irrigation system have adapted to climate change and brought higher incomes to farmers in Tien Giang province.

Over the past 3 years, Resolution 120 has proved efficient, receiving active response from sectors, local agencies, enterprises, and people and mobilized support from international organizations and development partners.

The region has applied scientific and technological applications and restructured production toward value chains instead of depending on naturally preferential treatment in terrain, climate, and aquatic resources.

The Resolution created a major breakthrough in setting the overall direction of the region’s sustainable development, centering on people, and promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water and land resources to boost rural development.

The Government has improved policies for the region’s sustainable development, focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency, infrastructure, and environmental engineering, agriculture and aquaculture, and food processing, and transportation services. The move has helped to attract investment in agriculture, strengthened the bonds between managers, investors, scientists and farmers, improved the value chain, and created a foothold for trading agricultural products on the world market.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said, “3 years on from implementing the resolution, the Mekong Delta has improved its mindset and action.”

“The region has proactively adapted to climate change by considering floods and saltwater the resources for economic development. The locals’ livelihoods and living standards have improved. Restructuring production while  adapting to nature has helped the region continually announce high GDP growth,” Mr. Ha said.

Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, said that the Mekong Delta region is challenged by climate change, as well as risks caused by upstream development activities. Both lead to environmental pollution, and a serious ecological imbalance.

He called for stronger links in the region to address the situation, adding, “Localities need to prioritize resources, and arrange funds to implement the projects that involve inter-regional connectivity to reserve land for production and trading, whilst connecting traffic routes along coastal corridors.”

Mr. Dung said, “More priority should also be given to coastal road projects, which help connect the region as much as possible.”

Water pumped into canals to fight droughts in Tien Giang province

Addressing a recent Conference on Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Delta, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the region as the agricultural hub of Vietnam, which contributes to half of the total unhusked rice output, 95% of the rice export volume, 65% of the aquacultural output, and 70% of the fruit production.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to focus on education and strengthen links between localities, saying, “First, it’s necessary to create the best business environment for enterprises, and promote flexible economic policies. Second, it’s important to comprehensively develop key markets.”

“Localities need to pay more attention to training and retraining,  to provide workers with the essential skills they will need to adapt to a shift in production. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs should take responsibility for this project," said the Prime Minister.

Mekong River Delta provinces have been strengthening links with Ho Chi Minh City, upholding the role of the Regional Coordination Council, strongly developing urban centers, boosting national and international cooperation, and taking advantage of international aid to make the region stronger and more sustainable.