Mekong Delta urged to promote large-scale production

The Government leader had a working session on July 11 with key officials of the delta’s three biggest granaries - An Giang, Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces to discuss solutions for ensuring large-scale production in a sustainable manner.

He underlined the Mekong Delta’s biggest advantages of food production, fruit farming and aquaculture, while pointing out numerous difficulties and shortages faced by the sector, such as drops in farmers’ productivity and income levels.

PM Dung urged the region and three provinces in particular to shift the agricultural economy towards large-scale production.

The provinces should firstly focus on building and expanding large-scale paddy fields, developing concentrated material areas in association with trademark building, he said, adding that there should be a close connection between production, process and selling.

Special importance should be attached to trade promotion and market expansion, as well as encouraging enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural development, he noted.

The PM also requested regional localities to successfully purchase food for the State stockpile, restructure loans for farmers and enterprises, offer production training for farmers, and adopt technologies to improve productivity and quality.

Speaking at the event, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat said localities should review rice production planning and diversify crops suitable to the land, cultivation conditions and market trends.

In addition, crops should be secured from natural disasters such as salt intrusion, floods and droughts.

Regarding tra fish and shrimp farming, Minister Phat proposed lifting trade and technical barriers, strengthening trade promotion, enhancing traditional and large markets, and exploring new markets.

Aquatic infrastructure should also be prioritised while controlling pesticide use in aquatic farming areas and setting up a pandemic warning system, he said.

Expressing their interest in the large-scale field model, senior officials from An Giang, KienGiang and Dong Thap provinces and several enterprises urged the Government to issue policies in support of production-consumption connectivity, and trade promotion of staple agricultural products.

They also asked relevant agencies to pay more attention to improving market forecasts, supporting businesses’ investment in agriculture and developing production areas attached to building manufacturing-processing-consumption establishments.