Illustrative photo

Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Head of Cultivation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "By the end of April, we expect to harvest 13 million tonnes of rough rice for the Mekong Delta region, the coastal south-central region, and the Central Highlands. By June, we’ll harvest more from 1.1 hectares of the fall-winter crop in northern provinces. The total harvest for the first half of this year is above 20 million tonnes of rough rice, so we can ensure domestic food security and partial export demands."

The Ministry has taken a series of solutions to ensure food security in any circumstances as the Mekong Delta is predicted to suffer more severe drought and salt intrusion, which will adversely affect the summer-autumn crop nationwide.