According to the ministry, farmers in the country’s key rice producing region are waiting for rain to help reduce salination in some 350,000 hectares in eight out of the delta’s 13 provinces before they can sow paddy. Therefore, more than 50% of the rice farming area in the region has been impacted by drought and salination.
Since the end of 2015, some 178,000 hectares of rice has beendamagedby drought, with output on 90,000 hectares slumping 70%.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated this year’s paddy output at 44.6 million tons, dropping 824,000 tons compared to last year, and rice exports at 7.85 million tons.
Export prices of Vietnamese rice in Asian markets havedroppedslightly while those of Thailand’s are high thanks to theappreciationof baht. Particularly, the current price of Vietnam’s 5% broken rice is quoted at US$375 per ton, falling US$15 per ton against the previous month, while Thailand’s 5% broken rice has risen to US$382-390 per ton from US$370-380.
India exports its 5% broken rice at US$380 per ton, up US$5 per ton, while Pakistan sells rice of the same type at US$355 per ton, up US$10 per ton, and Cambodia US$455 per ton, increasing US$25.
Source: http://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/ - Tu Giang
Keyword : Mekong Delta, drought, and, salination hurt, rice production.
