The Vietnam-Cuba cooperation project on rice production at household scale has helped Cuba reduce imports, gradually realising the target of self-sufficiency.

Dr. Luis Aleman, head of the project in the third phase, made the assessment at a conference to review the implementation of the project over the past three years in Havana on Dec. 15.

Aleman said that during the performance process, Vietnamese experts have provided equipment, rice farming techniques and human resource training to Cuba.

They also shared experience in building mechanisms and policies to manage rice production and consumption, and helped the island country build rice seed production centres in some cities and provinces nationwide.

Many Cuban households have successfully applied Vietnam’s rice farming techniques, raising average output to around 6.5 tonnes per hectare, up 40 percent from the previous time, he said.

Nguyen Van Hoa, Head of the International Cooperation Department under the Government Office and Secretary of the subcommittee of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-governmental Cooperation Committee, said that the success of the project will lay a foundation for the two sides to carry out the fourth phase from 2012 to 2015 to help Cuba ensure food security./.