Vinh Long (VNA) – Plentiful promotional activities have contributed to enhancing the agricultural restructuring efficiency in the Mekong Delta, said Phan Huy Thong, Director of the National Centre for Agriculture Promotion.
The efforts include shifts to other crops from rice to better adapt to climate change, and the application of technologies and VietGap standards in regional agricultural production.
As one of the provinces hardest hit by drought and saltwater intrusion, Tra Vinh has expanded the model of planting forests in combination with shrimp growing.
The province has also replaced one of its three low-efficient rice crops with other more lucrative plants such as corn and peanut, bringing in a profit of between 20-60 million VND (900 – 2,700 USD) per hectare to farmers.
Meanwhile, Vinh Long has expanded the model of large-scale fields in the districts of Vung Liem, Tam Binh and Tra On, increasing rice productivity by 0.5 tonnes per hectare as well as reducing losses and production costs.
The province has also piloted the cultivation of seasame, soybean, yam, and corn on 120 hectares in line with the VietGap standards, generating a profit of between 12-103 million VND (530 – 4,600 USD) per hectare, nearly eight times higher than that from rice.
The rate of using machines in agricultural production activities has reached 82-97 percent, saving production costs and human resources while increasing rice quality and incomes for farmers.
Deputy Director of the Vinh Long Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Liem suggested regional localities coordinate with each other to fully tap consumption markets in an effort to boost the agricultural restructuring.-VNA