Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has recommended the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong capitalises on its agriculture using hi-tech innovations as a way to pursue sustainable growth, saying that their products can reach out to bigger markets.

At a working session with the provincial authorities in Lam Dong on March 25, Ninh requested the locality to spread effective production models and its value chain involving farmers, cooperatives and enterprises.

He also asked for more attention to the construction of new-style rural areas, with a priority given to planning.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the local economy expanded by 11 percent year on year in the January-March period, with 35,000 hectares of hi-tech farmland that generates over 4.2 trillion VND (200 million USD) in annual revenue.

Last year, its agricultural industry grew 7.8 percent while the rate of poor households was brought down to 4.13 percent.

Lam Dong has so far raised more than 13 trillion VND (610 million USD) to build new rural areas. It has upgraded 976km of rural roads, 146 irrigation works and 161 transformer stations.-VNA