Question

Describe any five steps taken by the French for the development of the Mekong Delta Region

Answer 1

The French colonisers took many important steps for the development of the Mekong delta region of Vietnam.
Five major steps among them are
(i) The French authority started building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta to increase cultivation.
(ii) This vast system of irrigation work including canals and earthworks was built mainly by forced labour of native people.
(iii) The area under rice cultivation was made larger. In 1873, the area under rice cultivation was 2,74,000 hectares but in 1930, it occupied 2.2 million hectares.
(iv) Vietnam started to export two-thirds of its rice production and by 1931, it became the third
largest exporter of rice in the world.
(v) The French authority developed infrastructure of Vietnam to help transport goods for trade. They constructed railway network that connected Vietnam to China and Vietnam to Siam (Thailand).

Answer 2

Following are five important steps taken by the French in order to develop the Mekong Delta Region:

1. The French colonial government began to build large canals in the Mekong delta region.

2. Infrastructure projects were undertaken to ensure easy and smooth movement of goods from one part to the other part of the country.

3. The French augmented rice production in the region by building an extensive irrigation system (canals and earthworks) through forced labour. Three fourths of the increased production was exported, and thus by 1931, Vietnam became the third largest exporter of rice in the world.

4. Work was started on the Trans Indo-China rail link which would connect the northern and southern parts of Vietnam and China.

5. A second line was built between Vietnam and Siam (Thailand) through Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.