Agriculture feel the heat: [3] Farmers proactively adapt

Retaining moisture at the roots, reducing heat stress for livestock

Amid scorching days in Binh Loi Commune, the Hu Duc apricot garden of Mr. Bui Ngoc Duc has maintained its stable green canopy. Across an area of about 4 hectares, a drip irrigation system runs steadily beneath each tree, allowing water to seep slowly into the roots instead of being applied through traditional flood irrigation.

The most notable difference in Mr. Duc’s drought mitigation approach lies in a water storage pond located behind the garden. The pond is deeply excavated and lined with plastic to retain freshwater for a long time, allowing the farm to proactively secure irrigation water during peak heat months and when the risk of saline intrusion arises.

Bài liên quan

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

Agriculture feel the heat: [2] Preserving fresh water amidst dry season

“In the past, the biggest concern was canal water becoming saline or suddenly running dry. Now, with our own storage pond, we are much more proactive and no longer dependent on the weather,” Mr. Duc said.

In addition to water storage, the apricot garden is also covered with shading nets for potted plants, which are the most vulnerable to heat stress. According to Mr. Duc, prolonged heat causes rapid water loss in the plants; without reducing direct solar radiation, leaves can easily burn and growth will decline.

Beyond the Binh Loi apricot-growing area, farmers in many vegetable-growing regions in Ho Chi Minh City such as Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, as well as Ba Ria and Chau Duc, are increasingly adopting water-saving methods. These include shifting from flood irrigation to drip irrigation and localized sprinkler systems, as well as covering soil with straw or agricultural plastic to retain moisture and reduce evaporation.

“Mulching helps the soil retain moisture for one to two days longer than before, significantly reducing the number of irrigation cycles per week. In recent weeks, we’ve also adjusted watering schedules to early morning or late afternoon to avoid water loss during peak heat hours,” said Mr. Giang, a leafy vegetable farmer in Ba Diem Commune.

While crops face the risk of water shortages, heat directly affects livestock health. At the Vigova poultry farm under the Institute of Animal and Veterinary Sciences for Southern Vietnam, misting systems are operating continuously on the roofs at midday, helping reduce the ambient temperature inside the barns by several degrees Celsius compared to outside conditions.

According to Master Nguyen Duc Thoa, although the southern region faces fewer major natural disasters, it is under constant pressure from year-round heat. Poultry are the most sensitive to high temperatures: even a sudden rise in barn temperature can cause chickens and ducks to eat less, gain weight more slowly, lay fewer eggs, and suffer weakened immunity.

“For poultry farms, we can spray water directly onto the yard and combine it with shading nets to create cooler conditions. For chickens, misting systems or spraying water on the roof can help reduce heat immediately,” Mr. Thoa advised.

At many small- and medium-scale farms in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, heat mitigation measures are also being applied more flexibly. Instead of low, enclosed barns, many households are renovating structures with higher roofs and better natural ventilation to release hot air. Exhaust fans, cooling pads, and electrolyte-supplemented drinking systems are gradually becoming standard equipment in poultry farms.

Another important adjustment during the hot season is feeding time. Instead of feeding at midday as before, many farmers now feed early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when temperatures are lower, to reduce heat stress and improve feed intake and absorption. In addition, some farmers apply simple but effective measures such as bathing livestock and waterfowl to lower body temperature and reduce the risk of heat stress.

Designing well-ventilated housing and creating shaded resting spaces for animals has become a key solution to mitigate the impacts of prolonged heat. At the pig farm of Trang Linh Co., Ltd. in Xuyen Moc Commune, this model has proven to be highly effective.

Mr. Pham Truong Giang, Executive Director of Trang Linh Co., Ltd., said that in addition to areas using biological bedding, each barn is designed with a separate concrete floor section located near the main walkway. “This is where pigs can rest and move around without heat accumulation as on bedding surfaces. Placing this area near the walkway also helps take advantage of airflow from the fan system, creating a cooler environment for the pigs during hot days,” he explained.

Adapting to survive in extreme climate conditions

Prolonged heatwaves are pushing agriculture in Ho Chi Minh City into a new phase of adaptation, where resilience to extreme weather becomes a decisive factor for the survival of each production model.

Recently, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoang, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, along with a working delegation, conducted inspections of key agricultural production areas to develop solutions and proactively store water in response to the risks of prolonged drought and saline intrusion.

If in the past, responses to heatwaves were mainly temporary measures such as increasing irrigation, using makeshift shading, or adding cooling fans, adaptation has now moved to a more fundamental level, restructuring the entire production process, from crops and livestock to supporting infrastructure.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Hai, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Agricultural Extension Center, noted that current adaptation trends are no longer short-term solutions but are gradually becoming the new standard in urban agricultural production.

“Farmers have clearly changed their mindset: instead of relying entirely on weather and natural water sources, they are now proactively storing water, conserving it, adjusting cropping calendars, selecting heat-tolerant varieties, and redesigning farming models to better suit harsh climate conditions,” Mr. Hai noted.

This shift is evident as many growers adopt drip irrigation, localized sprinkler systems, mulching to retain soil moisture, constructing freshwater storage ponds, and using shading nets to reduce heat radiation. “These solutions not only save water resources but also significantly reduce stress on crops during high-temperature periods. Even planting schedules are being adjusted more flexibly to avoid peak heat periods and minimize yield risks,” he added.

Heatwaves not only reduce feed intake and growth in livestock but also weaken immunity, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. As a result, improving housing conditions, such as enhancing ventilation, installing misting systems, exhaust fans, cooling pads, adjusting feeding times, and supplementing electrolytes, has become essential.

The most vulnerable group currently is small-scale farmers, who often lack the capital to invest in cooling equipment and infrastructure. “Heat stress can quickly weaken livestock immunity. If barns are not cooled in time, diseases can emerge and spread rapidly,” warned Master Nguyen Duc Thoa. This risk extends beyond individual households and can threaten the overall biosecurity of entire livestock production areas.

In aquaculture, particularly ornamental fish and freshwater farming, prolonged heat is also affecting water quality, reducing dissolved oxygen levels and increasing the risk of disease. In response, many farms are strengthening aeration systems, shading pond surfaces, monitoring water temperature, and building storage tanks to stabilize the farming environment.

Given these realities, restructuring the agricultural sector toward greater flexibility and sustainability in the face of climate change has become increasingly urgent. As extreme heatwaves occur more frequently, the ability to adapt is no longer an option - it is a prerequisite for maintaining production.