MEKONG SALT LAB 

Overview: The livelihoods of countless farmers are facing significant challenges, and coastal provinces are increasingly at risk due to the ongoing intrusion of saltwater into the land. In addressing this concern, the establishment of the Mekong Salt Lab serves as a collective effort aimed at tackling salinity challenges. With diverse expertise and perspectives, this project is to devise viable approaches for managing and adapting to salinity, thus safeguarding communities and agricultural practices in the region.

Phase Promoting the uptake of alternate wetting and drying technology in rice cultivation in the Mekong River Delta region through a training approach (AWD-Uptake)1: Orange Knowledge Programme - Nuffic

Phase 2: RVO- Neitherlands Enterprise Agency

Phase 1: May 2022 - April 2023

Phase 2: June 2023 - May 2025

Phase 1: 

- Further developing our expertise on salinity mitigation and adaptation including fresh water management and integrated and adaptive planning;
- Transfering this interdisciplinary expertise to farmers to help them adapt more quickly;
- Exchanging knowledge and working together with local stakeholders and international partners.

Phase 2: 

- Supporting farmers to sustain their livelihoods

- Providing food to their local communities and securing the critical (international) food supply of the Mekong region

- Strengthening the resilience and adaptive capabilities of farmers faced with the impacts of climate change, specifically salt intrusion due to sea level rise and worsening drought

Phase 1:

1. Training on scenario-based and adaptive planning
2. Training on how to design an interdisciplinary and integrated training program for farmers on salinity mitigation and adaptation, including course structure, course subjects, training format, etc.
3. Training on modern teaching methodologies to do the training on salinity mitigation and adaptation for farmers (both the classroom training and field practice)
4. Training on how to include farmers as citizen scientists as well as to plan and establish the Mekong Salt Lab as a centre of expertise recognised by our stakeholders and partners.
5. Training on how to use online tools to develop a stronger local and international expert network to exchange knowledge on salinity,  such as an online Salt Lab.

Phase 2:

1. Preparation for the project pilot
2. Preparation for gap analysis, intervention design, and implementation planning
3. First implementation phase at champion farmers 
4. Second implementation phase (scaling) 
5. Evaluation and institutional arrangements

Ms Tran Thi Ngoc Bich

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