The pilot project to restructure Dong Thap’s agriculture aims to increase added values for sustainable growth by improving connectivity between supply and demand, and applying advanced technologies in production. The project also aims to generate more stable jobs in rural areas as part of efforts to boost new rural development. Dong Thap has set targets to restructure its agricultural sector with a focus on several major products including rice, tra fish, ducks, orchards, and flowers. To this end, Dong Thap provincial authorities have implemented a number of measures to improve the management and effective exploitation of land resources and the water surface to boost agricultural and aquaculture production while making full use of public investment. Le Minh Hoan, Party Secretary of Dong Thap province, said: "We pledge to do our best to support businesses operating in Dong Thap. We’ve asked the government to temporarily use the local budget to support them. We’ll assist them by ensuring material zones and producers’ trust in enterprises to help them stabilize their business activities."

Dong Thap has set targets to restructure its agricultural sector with a focus on several major products including rice, tra fish, ducks, orchards, and flowers. Photo: PNOL

Tran Thi Thai, Deputy Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee said the project targets a green and sustainable agriculture for Dong Thap: "Most of our agricultural products remain poorly processed and packaged, resulting in limited profits. We’ll recalculate and invest more in auxiliary industries to support the local agriculture."

Dong Thap province has combined agricultural restructuring with supporting local communes to complete all criteria of the national program on new rural development including: building an ecological agricultural model, applying advanced technologies in agriculture, paying due attention to market demands and environmental impact assessment. Dong Thap has invested 50 million USD to implement a 21,000 ha vast-rice field project in 7 local communes.

Dong Thap aims to gain an agricultural growth rate of up to 5% in the 2016-2020 period with half of its communes completing all criteria of the national new rural development program, and the poverty rate reduced by 2% annually.