Vietnam's Rice Production Threatened by Prolonged El Nino

Scientists forecast that the El Nino climate pattern will continue through 2027, bringing higher temperatures, reduced rainfall, increased salinity intrusion and greater pest pressure across Vietnam. In the Mekong Delta, the country’s main rice‑producing region and a key exporter, these conditions risk lowering yields. Experts such as Lê Văn Chấn, deputy head of the provincial crop protection agency, and Nguyễn Đức Cương of the Rice Research Institute advise farmers to strengthen rice health from the start of the season. Recommended actions include careful land preparation, balanced fertilisation, avoiding overly dense sowing, flushing saline water from fields, and supplementing nutrients via leaf feeding.

In southern Vietnam, July rainfall fell 10‑48 % below normal and temperatures rose to 35‑36 °C, creating an unusually dry monsoon peak. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported sea‑surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region 1.4 °C above average, indicating the El Nino could soon intensify from moderate to strong. The combined heat and moisture deficits threaten not only rice yields but also broader agricultural stability in the region.