Vietnam: Cold Wave Likely To Damage Crops

According to a warning released by Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Cultivation Department, the ongoing cold climatic conditions in Vietnam are likely to damage crops especially in northern and central provinces.

According to local experts, most farmers transplanted rice seedlings one month sooner than schedule because they wanted to finish work before Tet (Lunar New Year) and the move had probably lost the farmers 500,000 MT of rice because the plants had blossomed early with empty ears.

Vietnam's Cultivation Department has asked the agriculture sector in localities to help farmers use nylon to protect rice plants from cold. Farmers should not be allowed to transplant rice if temperatures are below 15 Degree Celsius.