The central province of Binh Dinh aims to expand the size of its agricultural cultivation area to comprise 250 large-scale fields by 2015, with 230 paddy fields on 10,000ha, according to a conference organised by the provincial People’s Committee on October 6.

To ensure the target is met, the locality plans to create a value chain from production to processing. This would establish connections between partners in supply, consumption and production in an effort to lower production costs and increasing yields and quality for farmers.

In 2014, a total 233 large-scale fields covered an area of 9,720ha, involving more than 58,000 local households.

Rice farmers earned 25 million VND (1,190 USD) and 23.6 million VND (1,123 USD) per hectare for the 2013/2014 winter-spring crop and the 2014 summer-autumn crop, respectively. Overall, they earned 16 percent more than farmers who do not take part in the large-scale production programme.

In addition to rice, the large-scale production area also generated higher profits for other crops, such as peanuts, corn and cassava.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Ngoc Hung said the large-scale field production model attracted the active participation of local farmers and enterprises.

Hung added that small-scale fields in the region hindered the new production model, with each individual cultivating only 0.5ha of land, and instead proposed families work with others to form larger areas to cultivate a specific crop.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Thi Thu Ha highlighted the programme’s performance, using the farmer-enterprise partnership model and advanced technology.
She also highlighted the need to develop effective policies and measures for the sector’s growth.-VNA