Important waterway: Boats on the Mekong River at dawn. Vietnam is seeking to transform the delta region of the river to better cope with climate change. — AFP
CAN THO: According to the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry’s (MARD) Central Project Office, the World Bank-funded Mekong Delta Climate Resilience and Integrated Transformation Project (Merit-WB11) will be implemented in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and An Giang.
The aim of project is to enhance climate resilience in agricultural production and rural communities.
Deputy Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep on Aug 12 chaired a meeting on the progress of the Merit– WB11 project, which is expected to cost more than 17.75 trillion dong or about US$705.6mil.
The project is being financed with a combination of development loans and aid funding.
It is focusing on implementing both structural and non-structural solutions to address issues and improve and develop key product chains, thus increasing income for local residents.
Additionally, it will step up the switch from fragmented, small-scale development to a more centralised model, while fostering the growth of agriculture-based economic clusters linked to urbanised, industrialised, and tourism areas.
The shift is expected to create more jobs and generate higher incomes for workers.
In March, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved the project proposal.
Currently, MARD is in the process of collecting data and conducting preliminary research for a pre-feasibility study , aiming for formal approval in October.
On Aug 7, the Planning and Investment Ministry had been tasked with coordinating with MARD to review feedback from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (MONRE). The review aims to ensure that the Merit projects in the 10 provinces align with sustainable development and climate adaptation criteria for the Mekong Delta. The results are to be submitted to the Finance Ministry by this week.
According to Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy director of MONRE’s Climate Change Department, its review shows that the provincial projects generally meet the set criteria.
Hiep urged the local governments involved in the project to submit documents in response to the conclusions, confirming their commitment to ensuring the criteria, as well as the total investment and their ability to allocate matching funds.
The official also stressed the importance of expediting preparations to ensure that MARD and provincial projects follow commitments to the World Bank as planned in 2025.
Vice-chairman of the Bac Lieu People’s Committee Huynh Huu Tri underscored the necessity of the Merit projects for the delta provinces in addressing climate change, managing water resources, combating saltwater intrusion, transitioning agricultural models, and ensuring livelihoods.
Bac Lieu is set to implement three components related to 34 saltwater intrusion control gates, targeting a closed irrigation system for multiple purposes, including agricultural production.
Similarly, vice-chairman of the Soc Trang People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Nam noted that the project will fund the province’s construction of two boat locks, which will help the province better manage saltwater intrusion and complete its water control system. — Viet Nam News/ANN
