Continuing the series of activities in phase 2 of the Mekong Salt Lab Project (2023-2025) – a project supporting the Mekong Delta in addressing climate change and saltwater intrusion, on October 25th at Tra Vinh University, the Mekong Salt Lab 2024 Forum concluded; identifying models, targets, and human resources for replication.

The forum was attended by Mr. Gregor Van Essen, Director of The Water Agency – Netherlands; Dr. Danny Jannik, Saxion University – Netherlands; Mr. Willem Timmerman, First Secretary Water and Climate, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diep Thanh Tung, Vice Rector of TVU; leaders of the Departments: Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Provincial Women’s Union, Provincial Cooperative Union, etc.

At the forum, Mr. Gregor Van Essen, Director of The Water Agency, informed about the Project and the results of the implementation of the Project models (specifically, there are 06 models: household rainwater storage, agricultural rainwater storage, open hydroponics, surface water treatment, rainwater treatment into drinking water and wastewater treatment using wetland method). The focus is on supporting farmers in the region to respond to climate change and salinity intrusion, contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta; including Tra Vinh. The project focuses on 03 main groups of subjects: farmers in the Mekong Delta, local authorities and agricultural enterprises.

Delegates attending the forum were divided into groups: those in charge of the same field, relevant departments and sectors to confirm the advantage models, priority models; models applicable to regions, subjects, etc.

From the actual results, on the second working day of the forum, delegates focused on discussing the suitability and effectiveness of the Project for the Mekong Delta in general and Tra Vinh in particular, which is one of the areas heavily affected by the impacts of climate change, especially drought, riverbank erosion, storms, etc. In particular, in the past 10 years, saline intrusion due to rising sea levels has negatively impacted the livelihoods of people in the region.

Delegates raised issues of concern: the specificity of Tra Vinh when replicating the models of the Project, the need to accurately forecast climate change and sea level rise and saline intrusion occurring quickly and further inland than forecast.

Delegates agreed on a number of comments, assessments, and replication solutions: Climate change has been, is, and will be a major challenge to agricultural production and socio-economic life. Changing thinking and actions will be the basis and premise for the next steps to proactively adapt to climate change. The project has important significance and practical applications in supporting people in Tra Vinh province. On that basis, 06 models of the project will be transferred to TVU, deployed for people in island communes, coastal areas, and ethnic minority areas.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diep Thanh Tung, Vice Rector of TVU, thanked the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for funding the Project, contributing to protecting sustainable livelihoods and developing agriculture. TVU will coordinate with the departments and branches: Agriculture and Rural Development, Provincial Women’s Union, Provincial Cooperative Union, Farmers’ Association… to replicate the model. At the same time, the University will continue to train human resources in related sectors and fields, in order to create a team to implement the Project in the future in a sustainable manner.

In his closing speech at the forum, Mr. Willem Timmerman, First Secretary for Climate and Water, affirmed: The project contributes to raising public awareness of environmental protection and climate change response, especially developing sustainable, smart agricultural farming models that reduce emissions in the context of increasingly severe saline intrusion, drought and climate change.

It is believed that with these six models from the project, Tra Vinh will soon complete and widely apply them for the community, contributing to the socio-economic development of Tra Vinh province in particular and the Mekong Delta in general.