Vinh Long (VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of VinhLong has set a target this year to earn 22.42 trillion VND (987.29 million USD)from agricultural production by restructuring the sector with a focus onproduct quality.

The vice chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee, Nguyen Van Liem, asked the sector to increase the added value ofproducts and reduce production costs.

He said the province should adjust productionstructures, crops and the scope of jobs in areas affected by salt intrusion andclimate change.

“It’s important for the province to change itsthinking in shifting from agricultural production to an agricultural economy,giving priority to quality production according to clear planning,” he said.The province needs to apply advanced technology and promote mechanisation inagricultural production and aquaculture, he added.

The province should also improve the quality andcompetitiveness of rice, sweet potato and citrus fruit (Nam Roi pomelo, Da Xanhpomelo, king orange), as well as pigs, cows and pangasius fish, among others.

Also needed are promotion of trade and investmentin new plant varieties and application of hi-tech in pre-processing products incompliance with VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Developmentsaid it would restructure crops by reducing the production area and increasingthe area for farm produce and fruit trees.

In particular, it plans to reduce the area forrice from nearly 170,000 hectares to 159,000 hectares, and increase the area forcrops and fruit trees from 54,000 to 55,000 hectares.

It will support the development of key fruittrees, and improve production linkages and traceability of products.

The province also plans to develop cattle andpoultry breeding in the direction of biosafety by using advanced technology toimprove product quality and productivity. The development of pangasius fishfarming will also be a priority.

In 2017, the province recorded over 22.1 trillionVND of agricultural, forestry and fishery production value, an increase of 2.14percent over 2016.

The cultivation reached a growth rate of more than5 percent compared to 2016.

The aquaculture sector recorded positive signs,with production areas and purchase prices increasing.
Last year, the production value of aquaculture was1.38 percent higher than the previous year.

Tran Hoang Tuu, vice chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee, said in 2017, the province’s agricultural sector faced manychallenges.

The prices of agricultural products wereunpredictable, causing difficulties for producers as well as agencies inplanning agricultural production.

The province failed to attract enough enterprisesto invest in agriculture and rural areas.

He said it was important to call for investment inpreliminary processing and brand building to create added value foragricultural products. -VNA