End of 2015 and the first phase in 2016 is the time salinity occur heavily in areas of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. It is estimated that salinity has devastated more than 240 thousand ha rice and 2,000 hectares of aquaculture. Salinity extends not only directly threaten the livelihoods of 1.1 million farmers in Mekong Delta, but also is the great risk for food security of the world because this region is Vietnam's main rice bowl- the third-largest rice export country in the world.

From 2012 to 2015, the researchers of the Center for Agricultural Policy in collaboration with Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy supported of the Australian Government investigate the affected farmers awarded by salinity in the Mekong Delta. Although the project is expected to end in June 2016, however, realize the importance of salt intake in 2016, the team has proposed the donors and approved to extend the time expected plan and conduct an investigation for a second iteration households in Ben Tre and Tra Vinh. The objective of the survey was to repeat in 2016 the situation update disasters and the impact of natural disasters on the agricultural production of farmers and the responses of households in extreme cases of serious disasters. Besides, Dr. Dang Kim Khoi and researchers at the CAP also had working sessions with leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ben Tre Province to present some preliminary results of the project, and an update on the damage caused by natural disasters in 2016, and the responses from the local authorities.

Investigative activities performed by collaborators in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources An Giang University under the supervision of a researcher at the Centre. Here are some pictures of the trip:

1.  The training at the An Giang University:

2.      Rice paddies in An Hiep commune, Ba Tri District, Ben Tre Province which has been salinity since December 20, 2015 has yet to be sown due to the lack of fresh water

3.      In the 2015-2016 winter-spring season, households are almost lost, rice obtained very bad quality, can only feed chicken and duck or be milled to make flour for cattle.

4.      Ba Tri and Thanh Phu are the two largest cattle districts in Ben Tre with the Ba Tri Beef famous brand, thanks to income from cattle production, many farmers in the district were not affected too big when they lost revenues from rice.

5.      Group interviews went to the households with guideline of the villager in the Women's Union.

6.      Supervisors Nguyen Dinh Dao and Doan Thi Minh Thu  assist investigators in their interview process

7.      The interview took place June 23 in the local temple in Tan Thanh commune to facilitate the movement of farmers

8.      Dr. Dang Kim Khoi worked with leaders of DARD Ben Tre Province