tailieunhanh - Measures to adapt to effects of climate change on agricultural production of Bến Tre province

The study shows that most local residents are gaining access to information about climate change through TV and radio channels, and they are informed about the human role in the making of climate change. The study suggests several measures to adapt to climate change, which if tackled well may stabilize and develop the local agricultural production in the future. | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT No. 207, November 2011 MEASURES TO ADAPT TO EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF BEÁN TRE PROVINCE by Dr. LEÂ NGUYEÃN ÑOAN KHOÂI* Climate change has seriously affected agricultural production, livelihood and living standard of farmers. Thaïnh Phuù District is located on the coast of Beán Tre Province, and thus can hardly avoid adverse effects of climate change. Although this situation represents a bad influence on the district’s business performance, it is also a good opportunity for local people to ask for assistance from the central government and international organizations. The study shows that most local residents are gaining access to information about climate change through TV and radio channels, and they are informed about the human role in the making of climate change. The study suggests several measures to adapt to climate change, which if tackled well may stabilize and develop the local agricultural production in the future. Keywords: climate change, agricultural production, community, development 1. Introduction Climate change which is marked by the global warming and the sea level rising has been a huge challenge to the humankind in the 21st century. It greatly affects human life in terms of the fresh water resource, power, agriculture, food security, and human health, etc. Therefore, climate change is not only related to the environmental field but also to the sustainable development of the whole world. At the present time, rice and aquatic products are two keynote components of Vietnam’s agricultural production. According the 2010 survey by the GSO, the Mekong Delta possessed around million hectares of paddy fields in 2008, representing 55% of the total national 38 RESEARCHES & DISCUSSIONS farming area; and approximately million hectares for aquaculture, accounting for 71% of the total one. However, it has been menaced by climate change, and the Mekong Delta is most adversely affected when the sea