Mekong Delta: Agricultural restructuring needs to follow planning

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the conference on restructuring agriculture in Mekong Delta. (Source: VNA)

Dong Thap (VNA) – Agricultural restructuring should be in line with the Mekong Delta region’s planning, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said at a conference on agricultural restructuring, land, irrigation and new rural areas.

The conference also focused on developing key agriproducts in value chains and plans to develop the Dong Thap Muoi region.

The Deputy PM urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to complete the plan for restructuring agriculture in the Mekong Delta.

He also recommended the region have planning on rice cultivation land while ensuring food security.

The region also needs to identify key products to develop brands.

He asked the MARD to review agricultural restructuring policies and create sub-regions such as Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen quadrangle or Ca Mau peninsula.

MARD Deputy Minister Hoang Van Thang said after three years of restructuring agriculture along with building new rural areas in Mekong Delta, all provinces in the region developed and passed their project or plan to restructure agriculture.

In the past three years, the region has used 78,000 hectares of former rice-farming land for vegetables and fruit trees like dragon fruits, peanuts, corn or watermelon.

New varieties of rice have also been used to boost rice output.

Nguyen Van Duong, Chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee, said the province restructured agriculture with five key products of rice, mango, catfish, duck and bonsai flower.-VNA