National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has asked the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to further promote the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas by making full use of the linkage among the Government, businesses and farmers.

During a working session with the provincial leaders on August 26 as part of his Mekong Delta tour, Chairman Hung praised the achievements that the province has made in agriculture, contributing to ensuring the country’s food security.

An Giang should speed up the restructuring of agriculture in the direction of modernity and high value, while focusing on applying technological advances in production and intensifying vocational training for rural labourers, he noted.

Underscoring the importance of reviewing the implementation of the Party’s resolution on developing agriculture, farmers and rural areas, which has inspired people from all walks of life and generated obvious economic achievements, the NA leader said the results of the resolution will pave the way for the enhancement of farmers’ living conditions, contributing to the economic development of the country.

Chairman Hung, who is also Chairman of the Steering Committee for the review of the five-year implementation of the resolution, asked An Giang to draw lessons from its experience to contribute ideas to perfecting the resolution.

He also called on local governments and people to continue their efforts to build new-style rural areas.

An Giang is considered a rice bowl of the country with 80 percent of farmland (equal to 297,000 hectares) and over 63 percent of its population working as farmers.

After five years of implementing the resolution, which was adopted during the 7th plenum of the Party Central Committee, the province has recorded a number of achievements, raising its per capita GDP from 6 million VND in 2008 to 36 million VND in 2013. Its budget collection rose 16.5 percent in the 2011-2013 period.

An Giang is also the first province in the country to complete planning for the building of new-style rural areas in all communes. Many good models of production connectivity between farmers and businesses have been seen in the locality.

Particularly, the large-scale fields are considered the most successful model in the province, expanding from 6,650 hectares in 2011 to 40,000 hectares this year and attracting the engagement of nine enterprises.

Earlier the same day, Chairman Hung visited the Thoai Son Food Company, which specialises in rice processing, in Vong Dong commune, Thoai Son district. He also met outstanding farmers in the district.-VNA