Vietnam splashes cash into agriculture activities

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam will spend VND198 billion (US$10.4 million) this year to encourage agriculture activities.

Of that amount, VND48 billion (US$2.6 million) is targeted for encouraging cultivation, VND24.5 billion (US$1.3 million) for breeding and VND23 billion (US$1.25 million) for fisheries. The remaining is for information dissemination and training.

Tong Khiem, director of MARD's National Centre of Agriculture and Fishery Encouragement, said this year that the agriculture encouragement would focus on key products of the industry and set up specialised production areas aiming to serve exports and processing.

The agriculture encouragement programme will be implemented in accordance with the government's other programmes, such as projects on agriculture, farmers and rural areas, and the new agriculture programme.

Khiem said the agriculture encouragement activities this year would apply scientific research and new technologies so as to increase productivity and plant and animal quality. Under the scheme, the industry could meet domestic consumption and export requirements, he added.

Farmers must raise their awareness about the importance of modern machines and equipment in exploiting sea resources, he said. They should also apply the Good Agriculture Practises model in cultivation activities for products with a high economic value.

For breeding, safety is a top priority. Farms should be located far from residential areas and meat products must be safe and high-quality. The tra, basa catfish and shrimp breeding models should be encouraged among local farmers, he said.

Khiem said this year the centre would coordinate with localities to organise festivals and fairs so that farmers can learn about modern technologies in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and promote their products to domestic and foreign buyers.