(VOVworld) – Developing large-scale fields plays a key role in building new-style rural areas and making agricultural production economically effective. Quang Binh province considers the model a breakthrough in shifting its agriculture to sustainable commodity-oriented production and increasing farmers’ incomes.

A large-scale field model to grow high-quality rice in Le Thuy. (Photo: baoquangbinh.vn)

Since the new rural development program was launched, Quang Binh has focused on rice field re-zoning, construction of field access roads, and cementation of dykes and dams. An investment in upgrading the irrigation network has advanced the mechanization of production.

Fact-finding tours of effective production models in neighboring provinces have encouraged several localities in Quang Binh to pilot the large-scale field model. Some localities are already seeing increases in productivity, quality, and value.

Each farm household in the Le Thuy district has about 1 hectare of fields. Paved access roads make it easier to implement high-tech farming.

The rice field re-zoning has helped many localities in Quang Binh advance the mechanization of production. (Photo: baoquangbinh.vn)

Tran Thi Thanh of Phong Thuy commune says each year her family grows two crops of rice on 22 hectares.

Thanh says: “Building large-scale fields has many benefits. For example, in the past, without these roads, it was very hard to go to or carry rice from the fields. Today, access roads make transport much easier. Vehicles of any kind can get to the fields.”

Quang Binh has gotten dozens of businesses involved in growing large-scale fields of rice, chilies, cassavas, groundnuts, corn, and sweet potatoes.

All communes in Quang Ninh district have merged small fields in an area of about 5,200 hectares and helped local farmers restructure their crops. Ham Ninh commune has led this effort. Ham Ninh currently has three production zones, covering 15 hectares, specialized in growing watermelons.

Ha Xuan Hung, Deputy Chairman of the Ham Ninh People’s Committee, said the income from growing watermelons is 3 or 4 times that of rice cultivation.

“The productivity of watermelons is high, so local farmers are glad to continue growing them. Their earnings have almost quadrupled. We consider watermelon crop that can reduce poverty and improve people’s lives,” according to Hung.

This year Quang Binh has implemented large-scale fields on more than 6,600 hectares. The development of production models and the boosting of linked production have generated steady jobs for thousands of workers during and after the main harvest period.

Nguyen Quoc Ut, the Director of Rural Development Department, said Quang Binh has attached special importance to combining production, processing, and distribution of farm produce.

He explains:“Quang Binh is one of the provinces in Vietnam that have adopted the agriculture restructuring program and called on enterprises to invest in agricultural production. Connections between agricultural production and businesses have undergone dramatic changes. The large-scale field model has gradually been expanded and investment has been made in infrastructure.”

Localities in Quang Binh province are accelerating the merging of fields by encouraging businesses and farmers to implement the model, while provincial authorities encourage a diversification of varieties to plant in the large-scale fields.