Agriculture and water quality in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Sebesvari, Z., Thi Thu Le, H., Van Toan, P., Arnold, U. and Renaud, F. G. (2012) Agriculture and water quality in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. In: Renaud, F. G. and Kuenzer, C. (eds.) The Mekong Delta System: Interdisciplinary Analyses of a River Delta. Series: Springer environmental science and engineering. Springer: Dordrecht, pp. 331-361. ISBN 9789400739611 (doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-3962-8_13)

Abstract

The economy of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta is based mainly on agriculture which is in turn heavily relying on the availability of fresh water of good quality. Under the Doi Moi (Renovation) process starting in 1986, agriculture and aquaculture production intensified rapidly partially through increased utilisation of agrichemicals such as fertilizer, pesticides, and veterinary products which contribute to non-point source pollution of aquatic ecosystems. Due to increased pollution by these agrichemicals, the capacity of freshwater systems to provide essential ecosystem services such as to maintain agriculture and aquaculture productivity and sustain human health is therefore under great pressure. This chapter reviews the main pathways of non-point source pollution to the water systems originating from agricultural production and addresses the trade-offs between agriculture and freshwater provisioning. Additionally, the chapter identifies possible measures that have been or could be implemented by the agricultural sector in order to enhance the sustainability of the water based agricultural activities in the Mekong Delta.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Renaud, Professor Fabrice
• Authors: Sebesvari, Z., Thi Thu Le, H., Van Toan, P., Arnold, U., and Renaud, F. G.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 2194-3214
• ISBN: 9789400739611