Agriculture feel the heat: [1] Thirsty crops and stressed livestock

Withering crops

At the vegetable garden of Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa (Hiep Binh Ward), more than 3,000 m² of leafy greens were entering harvest season just as an intense heatwave hit. As a result, yields have dropped significantly to about 70% of normal levels. “Previously, each crop yielded 1.5-1.7 tons; now it’s just over 1 ton, and some beds even have to be abandoned,” Mr. Hoa said.

Not only has output declined, but the vegetables also weaken rapidly with each passing hour of heat. According to Mr. Hoa, while the greens may still be fresh in the early morning, by around 10-11 a.m., when the sun intensifies, the entire field begins to wilt. Leaves droop, edges become scorched, and many beds that were lush in the morning turn visibly withered after just a single noon under harsh sunlight. Even with more frequent watering, the situation does not improve significantly, as the soil absorbs heat quickly, causing water to evaporate almost immediately before the roots can absorb it.

During prolonged hot spells, the vegetables do not die immediately but grow more slowly, with thinner, paler leaves and reduced quality, making them harder to sell. “What’s worrying is not a single hot day, but continuous heat that prevents the plants from recovering, causing them to weaken progressively,” Mr. Hoa shared. As a result, his family must closely monitor temperature fluctuations throughout the day to respond promptly, while also advancing the harvest time to avoid peak heat.

Not only traditional vegetable production, but hydroponic farming models are also significantly affected. Mr. Lam Ngoc Tuan, Director of Tuan Ngoc Agricultural Cooperative, said that each prolonged heatwave makes it more difficult to control hydroponic systems.

According to Mr. Tuan, when ambient temperatures rise, the nutrient solution also warms, causing root systems to suffer heat stress, reducing nutrient uptake, and even leading to root rot. “On extremely hot days, even a slight delay in adjusting the solution temperature can trigger immediate plant responses - leaves wilt and growth slows noticeably,” he said.

More concerning is that this situation is not isolated but is spreading across multiple localities. According to forecasts from the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning, many areas outside irrigation systems are expected to face drought conditions ranging from moderate to very severe in April 2026.

In Binh Phuoc Province, communes such as Dang Ha and Thong Nhat (Bu Dang District), Loc Thanh and Loc Quang (Loc Ninh District), and Tan Lap and Tan Hoa (Dong Phu District) have recorded severe to very severe drought conditions. In Tay Ninh Province, moderate to severe drought has been observed in areas including Tan Hoa and Tan Dong (Tan Chau District), Phuoc Ninh and Bau Don (Duong Minh Chau District), and Long Chu and Long Phuoc (Ben Cau District).

Even in Ho Chi Minh City, areas outside irrigation coverage, such as Vinh Loc A and Vinh Loc B (Binh Chanh District), Xuan Thoi Thuong and Ba Diem (Hoc Mon District), and Long Thoi and Nhon Duc (Nha Be District), are experiencing soil moisture shortages, particularly in locations far from water sources.

Livestock under “heat stress”

At the pig farm of Mr. Tran Van Thoi (Gia Kiem Commune, Dong Nai), prolonged heatwaves have kept the herd in a constant state of heat stress. According to Mr. Thoi, when temperatures in the barn rise at midday, pigs begin to show signs such as rapid breathing, lying flat, reduced appetite, and in some cases, complete refusal to eat.

“When it gets too hot, pigs lose strength very quickly. In the morning, they may seem normal, but by noon, they huddle together, pant heavily, and we have to spray water continuously to cool them down,” Mr. Thoi said. Beyond affecting their health, heat stress also significantly slows weight gain, prolongs time to market, and increases production costs.

More concerning, he added, is that when high temperatures persist for several consecutive days, the pigs’ immunity declines, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Meanwhile, electricity costs for fans, water pumps, and cooling systems rise sharply, yet efficiency remains inconsistent because the housing system is not fully enclosed.

“Farming now is not just about feed anymore, we have to ‘fight the heat’ for livestock every hour. A slight lapse can lead to immediate losses,” Mr. Thoi shared.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Pig Farming Association, said that pigs are highly sensitive to ambient temperature. In recent days, prolonged heatwaves have pushed temperatures to 36-37°C at times. Without proper control, livestock are prone to heat stress. As a result, pigs eat less, grow more slowly, their immunity declines, and the risk of disease increases.

According to Mr. Doan, small-scale farming households are more severely affected due to limited housing conditions, while large-scale farms with environmental control systems must still operate under strict protocols to maintain herd stability.

Rising costs, shrinking profits

Maintaining production under extreme heat is not only a technical challenge but is also directly eroding farmers’ efficiency. Mr. Lam Ngoc Tuan said production costs have increased by around 10% compared to before, mainly due to higher electricity and water expenses. However, the cooperative has had to keep selling prices unchanged to secure market outlets. “If we don’t raise prices, we incur smaller losses; if we do, we might lose the market altogether, so we have no choice but to accept lower profits,” Mr. Tuan said.

The practice of “absorbing losses to retain customers” is not limited to crop production; it is also common in livestock farming. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, owner of Ngoc Khoa poultry farm in Dong Nai Province, said cost pressures are rising significantly as most operations depend on cooling systems. Electricity bills surge on peak-heat days because fans and cooling systems must run almost continuously. More concerning, however, is the sharp drop in selling prices. According to Mr. Khoa, egg prices have fallen to around VND 1,200-1,300 per egg, down by as much as 30% compared to the end of last year, while broiler chicken prices have also declined.

“Feed, electricity, and transport costs have all increased, but selling prices have dropped, so the more we raise, the thinner our margins become, some batches barely make any profit,” Mr. Khoa shared. Meanwhile, the heat reduces feed intake in chickens, slows their growth, and prolongs the production cycle, further increasing feed and operational costs.

Assessing the situation, Mr. Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, said that extreme heat is significantly driving up production costs in livestock farming, especially in operations that lack synchronized investment. He noted that when temperatures rise, farmers are forced to intensify cooling measures, leading to higher spending on electricity, water, and labor. “At the same time, livestock eat less, grow more slowly, and use feed less efficiently, so input costs increase while output does not improve,” Mr. Doan remarked.

Many experts believe that heatwaves are no longer an abnormal phenomenon but are increasingly becoming a recurring pressure on agricultural production. As input costs continue to rise while selling prices cannot be adjusted accordingly, producers’ profit margins are being steadily squeezed, with the risk of losses if extreme weather persists.

$1 = VND 26,361 - Source: Vietcombank.