December 26, 2006

 

Vietnam to focus on development in Mekong region

 

 

The Vietnamese government plans to boost economic development in the Mekong River delta.

 

The region contributes 90 and 60 percent to the country's total rice and seafood exports. However, these two strengths have not yet been fully exploited to boost economic development in the region as fast as expected.

 

According to statistics, the Mekong River delta has approximately 12,100 seafood farms, representing 72 percent of the country's total number of seafood farms.

 

Aquaculture in Vietnam still remains at a low level due to poor planning. Export items mainly focus on shrimp and basa catfish while other seafood products have not yet been effectively exploited.

 

According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 25 percent of rice growing areas in the Mekong River delta specialise in producing high-quality rice. As the latter was  generally mixed with normal rice, it was difficult to improve the quality of rice for export.

 

In 2005, Vietnam exported 5.2 million tonnes of rice, of which just 76,000 tonnes was high-quality rice. Though Vietnam is the world's second largest rice exporter, the economic value of Vietnamese rice was still a concern. Rice here was still facing stiff competition with Thai rice.

 

The Mekong River delta has over the past few years focussed more on increasing productivity rather than enhancing the quality of rice.

 

Similarly shrimp breeding farms need to be reorganised by way of judicious investment in facilities and technologies for breeding farms. Fostering better relations with partners in regional countries like Thailand and Malaysia to import and export new breeds would go a long way.

 

Moreover, the demand for veterinary medicines should also be met to ensure hygiene and safety requirements as most of these products are imported.

 

One major development in promoting high quality rice has been carving out a high quality rice cultivation zone of 200,000 hectares in 7 out of 13 Mekong delta provinces and cities to build Vietnamese rice trademark. The government also has plans to expand rice cultivation areas in many other regions.

 

This will also fulfil an export plan, while helping farmers raise their income. Farmers who join the programme will receive support from relevant organisations, departments and the Food Corporation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will guide its units to implement the programme in the 2006-2007 winter-spring crop.