Water & Wastewater Asia May/June 2019

32 | FROM THE GROUND
In 2017, Vietnam achieved exports of US$36.5 billion for agricultural products. And in 2018, the country
in southern Asia aimed at a 3.05 per cent growth to reach an export figure of up to US$40.5 billion.
These figures illustrate the highly impressive transition of Vietnam — from being a country
plagued by famine to one of the world’s largest exporters of foodstuffs.
The transformation began in the 1980s when Vietnam underwent a drastic change
from being an importer to an exporter. As a result of trade liberalisation and
agricultural reforms, the value of agricultural exports rose significantly.
Today, Vietnam is the top exporter worldwide for black peppercorns
and cashew nuts. In addition, the country ranks among the top
10 exporters for coffee, coconuts, rice, rubber, sweet potatoes, and tea.
AN INDUSTRY UNDER THREAT FROM CLIMATE
CHANGE
In view of this, agriculture is not just an important part
of the GDP, but also continues to be one of the most
important employers in the country. However, the
industry is confronted time and time again with
adverse weather conditions. With a total
annual precipitation of 640 billion cubic
metres, Vietnam is one of the rainiest
countries on earth, but this rainfall
is not always distributed ideally
over time and regions. 75 to
85 per cent of this
volume falls within
four to five
months during
the monsoon
period, and mainly in
the northern part of the
country. The southeasterly
monsoon occurring during this
period brings severe weather every
year — heavy and incessant rain, which
results in rivers and streams bursting their
banks regularly and causing flooding.
In 2008, flooding in Vietnam cost hundreds of
lives. The capital, Hanoi, where 20 people died in the
floodwaters or after being struck by lightning, was also
particularly badly hit. In addition to the lives lost, the severe
weather resulted in a shortage of drinking water and basic
foodstuffs. The heavy rainfall in 2013 too, saw more than 30 lives
lost and over 100,000 houses flooded. In October and November 2016,
Vietnam was struck by a total of three exceptionally heavy storms. Once more,
flooding claimed 40 victims and again destroyed 100,000 houses as well as
1300 hectares of paddy fields. The figures for 2017 were similar.
With Vietnam experiencing heavy rainfall land
serious flooding, ANDRITZ shows how its
concrete volute pumps are able to achieve the
ideal flood control for the country.
Climate change is making this situation continually worse. According to current forecasts
by the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change), climate change will increasingly affect
countries on the equator. In this respect, Vietnam is ranked among the countries with the highest
risk. At an average emissions level, the scenario for 2080 to 2099 is predicted as having even higher
annual rainfall in the months that already experience the heaviest rain. This was heralded only recently
Water & Wastewater Asia • May / June 2019