NA Deputy Chairman urges Gia Lai to promote agricultural production

NA Deputy Chairman Phung Quoc Hien speaks at the working session with Gia Lai authorities on September 26 - Credit: baogialai.com.vn

The suggestion was made by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Chairman Phung Quoc Hien during a working session with the Central Highlands province’s authorities on September 26.

According to a report from the Gia Lai provincial People's Committee, in the first nine months of 2017, the province’s total social investment capital was estimated at VND18.9 trillion (US$831.6 million), up 11.7% over the same period of 2016. State budget revenue in the period reached over VND4 trillion. It is expected that, by the end of 2017, the local economic growth rate will reach 7.51%, with per capita income at VND 41.6 million and the poverty rate down to 13.95%.

Based on the expected results of the 2017 tasks and the local situation, Gia Lai has set several major targets for 2018, with the growth rate of total social product reaching 7.54 %; GRDP per capita at VND45.5 million, total social investment at VND20.6 trillion; total export turnover US$470 million; and State budget revenue estimated at VND3.6 trillion.

Regarding the implementation of the NA’s Resolution No. 24/2016/QH14 on agricultural restructuring, the province has made positive changes in its agricultural sector towards shifting the structure of crops, applying scientific and technical advances on seedlings to increase productivity and quality, reduce production costs and adapt to climate change.

Gia Lai has converted 2,578 ha of inefficient paddy land to other crops for high economic efficiency, while re-cultivating 4,388 ha of aging coffee in order to improve the quality of coffee areas. The value of agricultural production has grown relatively well, especially for long-term industrial crops, such as coffee, tea, pepper and rubber with a total of 227,730 ha.

At the meeting, the leaders of Gia Lai recommended that the NA Standing Committee instructs the Government and other central ministries to review, adjust and supplement capital for the construction of canals under the Ia Mo irrigation work to bring into full play the whole facility as soon as possible.

They also suggested that the NA promptly amends and supplements the 2009 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and to consider the salary and special allowances for local health workers.

Gia Lai asked the Government to provide specific support for local communes with a high percentage of ethnic minority people, disadvantaged locales, and border communes in building modern rural areas, as well as developing an agricultural insurance policy to assure investors in production.

Concluding the working session, NA Deputy Chairman Hien agreed with the province’s proposals on solutions to transform its economic model, especially in agricultural production, as the sector remains the backbone and strength of Gia Lai.

The NA official suggested that Gia Lai continues to promote its strengths to develop organic agriculture, with priority given to the development of long-term industrial crops and fruit trees for high productivity and high quality, while effectively implementing agricultural restructuring and promoting links in production, processing and the marketing of agricultural products.

The province should promote the development of services and attract investment to develop eco-tourism and cultural festival tourism in association with preserving the traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups in the locality.

Measures are also needed to increase the coverage of forests with the adoption of effective forest land allocation policies and forest management, he said, adding that the province should attach significant importance to the development of the healthcare, education, and local defence and security sectors.

The same day, Hien and his working mission visited hi-tech pepper production models in Ia Le and Nhon Hoa (Chu Puh district) and modern production models of several local enterprises.