Desktop Study on - Regional Climate Change Adaptation ...

Assessment of Capacity Gaps and Needs of South East Asia Countries
in Addressing Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Variability and Climate Change
meters higher and move 100 - 200 km northwards
in comparison with present. Due to abnormal
changes of rainfall intensity, flood inundation and
drought would occur more frequently. Significant
cultivation areas in Mekong and Red River deltas
would be under salt water due to sea level rise. The
Central Highlands region may also be affected on
agricultural productivity because of the increase of
severe weather events. The economy of the Central
Highlands region of Viet Nam is based on forestry
and agriculture in which the main products of the
area includes coffee, rubber, pepper and other cash
crops (ICEM, 2009).
According to the results from the simulations, the
period of inundation will be prolonged during the
rainy season impacting the productivity of rice
farming. As a rough estimation of the effects of the
inundations, at least 25% of the lands of the delta
will be inundate in next decades, reducing the
production by 3 million tons of rice (ADPC, 2003).
The Snidvongs study (2006) contains the <strong>Study</strong>
of Impact of Climate Change on Rain-Fed Rice
Productivity which argues that change in climate
pattern will affect agriculture system directly,
especially the rain-fed system. This study focused on
the study of climate change impact on rain-fed rice
cultivation as it is considered as the most important
food crop of the Southeast Asia region. It says that
in Lower Mekong River region, in Viet Nam, where
farmers grow two crop cycles in a year, the simulation
result of the study shows different climate impacts:
the winter-spring crop will get slight impact from
climate change as the yield will increase slightly
from baseline year under climate conditions at
atmospheric CO2 concentration of 540 ppm, but
will drop slightly from baseline year under climate
conditions at CO2 concentration of 720 ppm; the
summer-autumn crop tends to be severely impacted
by climate change. The simulation shows significant
decline productivity by approximately 8 - 12% under
climate condition at CO2 concentration of 540 ppm
and would sharply drop up to almost 50% in some
areas under climate condition at CO2 concentration
of 720 ppm.
Due to salinisation, climate change is also expected
to narrow down area of agricultural land. A
significant fraction of agricultural land in the coastal
plain, the Red River Delta and the Mekong River
Delta will be exposed to salt water intrusion as a
result of rising sea level if no responding method is
applied (MoNRE, 2008b). Dasgupta’s study (2007),
shows that a 1-metre rise in sea level would affect
approximately 5 % of Viet Nam’s land area, which
would impact 7% of agriculture, and reduce GDP
by 10%. Along with the short rainy periods will
come longer dry seasons which will compound the
salinisation problems that already exist. In 2003, the
42% of the delta was affected by salinity intrusion,
which is the main limiting factor in agricultural
production. Drinking shortages are also a problem
for local people, so measures are needed to prevent
further salinity intrusion; the increase of run-off
in rainy season leaves less freshwater for the dry
season (ADPC, 2003).
Vulnerabilities and Adaptation in the
Agriculture and Food Sector
Coastal districts of Viet Nam concentrate nearly a
quarter of the total population, though only covers
16% of land surface. Approximately, 58% of coastal
zone livelihoods are based on agriculture, fishing
and aquaculture (Chaudhry and Ruysschaert,
2007). Agriculture, forestry and fishery contribute
28.7% to the GDP. The agricultural land is 7.37
million hectares; gross output of food crops in rice
equivalent is 26.2 million tons (MoNRE, 2003).
Listed below are measures described in the Initial
National Communication for adaptation to climate
change:
1. Development of crop patterns suitable to
climate change.
2. Effective use of irrigation water.
3. Upgrading of irrigation system for agriculture.
4. Development of new varieties that could stand
against severe environmental conditions.
5. Reserve and storage of local crop varieties,
establishing crop seed bank.
6. Development of farming techniques appropriate
to climate change.
Adaptation of rain-fed farmer to climate change
results
The evidence is clear: adaptation measures begin at
local scale. In the case of rain-fed rice farmers in Viet
Nam, indigenous adaptation measures are practiced
at the household level. Community and national
level measures play limited role in reducing their
climate risks. Community level measures in Viet
Nam are very limited and have low effectiveness.
Farmers consider measures implemented at the
national level as moderately effective. The farmlevel
solutions are mainly efforts and investments to
increase and sustain the productivity (construction
and maintenance of small-scale irrigation systems
or embankments to protect their farmland from
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