Party General Secratery Nguyen Phu Trong listened to the difficulties of local farmers and residents when visiting rice farms in Tan Thanh Commune, Giong Trom District. Ben Tre has implemented many measures to prevent further saltwater intrusion such as channel dredging, reinforcing embankments, and upgrading dams to store freshwater.
The party chief praised the province for the timely efforts made to mitigate the worst effects of the situation and help local people continue with their livelihoods.
"We need to measure salinity levels and drought regularly. The responses to the disaster at the moment are temporary solutions. The province needs to adopt sustainable solutions such as building dams to prevent saltwater intrusion or fresh water reservoirs, or realign the local economy to increase industrial production and the provision of services. The province should also call for further assistance from the government to overcome the losses in the coming time", Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said.
Trong also endorsed a local proposal to deal with the high levels of poverty in the area. He urged the province to take advantage of favourable conditions to develop transport links with the wider region, focus on the development of agricultural and marine businesses and encourage public administration reform to remove difficulties in the coming time.
