An Giang spends big on restructuring agricultural sector

Rice production in An Giang. The Mekong Delta province is taking actions to restructure its agricultural sector. (Source: VNA)

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang will spend over 2.3 trillion VND (105 million USD) from now to 2020 to implement a project to restructure the agricultural sector.

The project aims to maintain a yearly growth rate of 3.35 percent for the sector from 2015-2020, increasing effectiveness and competitiveness via productivity, quality, efficiency and added value to better meet the demands and tastes of consumers and for export.

The first phase of the project will be implemented from now to 2017 with a cost of more than 1 trillion VND (45 million USD) and the second from 2018 to 2020 with 1.3 trillion VND (60 million USD).

The restructuring will focus on increasing the proportions of the fishery and livestock sectors and reducing the portion of farming. The forestry sector is intended to be kept stable.

It also aims to develop the service sector in rural areas and increase incomes and living standards for rural residents, contributing to stabilising the political system, ensuring national food security and fulfilling poverty alleviation goals.

Under the project, the province will zone off 22,000 ha of land for rice variety production in an effort to become the largest provider of rice varieties in the Mekong Delta region and the country.-VNA