Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on March 24 urged localities in the south-eastern, southern central and Central Highlands regions to make full use of their strengths to introduce new models of production and strengthen connectivity between farmers and businesses.

At a conference to review the three-year implementation of the national target programme on building new-style rural areas in Da Lat city, Deputy PM Ninh, who is head of the Steering Committee for the programme, said the links between production and distribution are crucial in raising farmers’ incomes.

He also asked the localities to enhance the application of science and high technology in production as a way to raise agricultural productivity and quality.

According to the Steering Committee, since 2011, 19 cities and provinces in the three regions have mobilised about 141.3 trillion VND (6.64 billion USD) for the programme, including 14.1 trillion VND (665.89 million USD) sourced from society.

As many as 42 communes out of the total 1,896 communes in the regions have reached all 19 criteria of the model, while 102 communes have fulfilled 15-18 criteria and 475 others have attained 10-14.

New production models have been introduced to some 4,760 production units, with a total investment of 3.49 trillion VND, said the committee.

In the south-eastern region, the localities have used their advantages in cultivating industrial plants such as coffee, rubber and pepper, while promoting the models of dairy and pig farming.

Meanwhile, the southern central region has focused on boosting its maritime economy with stronger fleets of fishing vessels for offshore expeditions, while the Central Highlands is raising forestry development and industrial plant cultivation.

Particularly, models of agricultural production using high technology in many localities have proved their efficiency, earning over 120 million VND (5,640 USD) per hectare annually.

A leading figure of 280 million VND (13,160 USD) per hectare was recorded in Ho Chi Minh City, much higher than the national average of 85 million VND (3,995 USD).-VNA