Lao Cai promotes agricultural production

Agricultural production changes

Lao Cai Province has devised a project on developing and improving efficiency for agricultural production during the 2011-2015 period. According to the project, changing the structure of its crops and livestock and applying scientific and technological achievements to agricultural production in order to establish a high-tech and sustainable agriculture towards high-quality consumer markets are needed.

Making the most of its natural advantages and weather and soil conditions, Sa Pa District has focused on safe vegetable farming on 200ha. The district produces 23,000 tonnes of fresh vegetable a year including chayote, cabbage and watercress. Fresh vegetable farming has brought high incomes for local farmers with an average of around VND100 million per ha per year, tomato farming in particular has achieved VND500 million per ha per year in revenues.

In terms of Muong Khuong District, tea has contributed to raising incomes and ensuring better living standard for local people. Muong Khuong District has around 1,000ha of tea meeting VietGAP standards for a productivity of six tonnes of fresh tea leaves per ha. Fresh and dried tea have increased by 20 percent and 15 percent in price in recent years, contributing to increasing jobs and income for more than 5,000 local farmers.

Lao Cai Province is attempting to develop rice, pineapple and banana farming areas of 2,000ha, 1,200ha and 1,500ha in 2015, respectively. According to the Lao Cai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the agricultural sector has proved its efficiency thanks to changes in agricultural production.

Incentive mechanisms are needed

Lao Cai Province is striving to reach annual agriculture, forestry and fishery growth of around 6.5 percent and production of 260,000 tonnes of cereals by the end of this year. To accomplish the goal, the province has devised mechanisms and policies such as encouraging businesses to make deals with farmers to provide retail outlets, giving land incentives to businesses investing in agricultural production, supporting vocational training and applying scientific and technological achievements to seed production.

Businesses investing in agricultural production in Lao Cai Province have enjoyed incentives in terms of land and water surface lease and market development since July 1, 2015. Cooperatives and households investing in agricultural production will be given net houses, irrigation systems, machinery and equipment serving production. Around VND200 billion from provincial budget is expected to go to agricultural projects during the 2015-2020 period.

However the province has faced difficulties in terms of transport infrastructure, processing and storage systems. Therefore, support from the state and business community to promote agricultural development is needed, contributing to raising incomes for farmers.

Quynh Nga & Lan Ngoc