Other crops to be planted on 120,138ha of rice fields in the southSome 120,138 ha of rice fields affected by a lack of water and saltwater intrusion in the southern region will be used to grow other crops in 2018, according to the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Corn, peanut, soybean, vegetables and fruits were grown on 16,500 ha of rice fields in the region in the 2017-2018 winter-spring crop. Growing fruits such as orange, grapefruit, longan, mango, rambutan, dragon fruit and durian in rice paddies in the south is becoming more popular because they have higher economic efficiency. In recent years, the MARD and authorities of localities have promoted switching crops on rice land areas affected by lack of water. In the context of climate change and prolonged drought, the switch also helps save irrigation water.-VNA

Source: VietNamNet News March 19, 2018 04:52 UTC