A training programme on planting trees in alkaline soil under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model was held in the southern province of Kien Giang on November 13.

The programme, the first of its kind, was jointly organised by the Hoa Bien Co., Ltd and the provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and Technology and Natural Resources and Environment.

According to Hoa Bien Company Director Nguyen Van Chau, the programme was part of a project on growing trees in alkaline soil, which has been implemented from April 2009 to October 2010. The project has a total investment of nearly 30,000 EUR, with half contributed by the Hoa Bien Company and the rest coming from Kien Giang province with the technical support of the German Technical Assistance (GTZ) organization.

The project aims to seek and develop new methods to improve the quality of highly alkaline soil in Kien Giang province, thus creating high-quality agricultural products in order to raise people’s incomes, he added.

Under their agreement, the Hoa Bien Company and relevant departments will cooperate in planting trees, conducting scientific research and organising agricultural promotion training courses on the company’s 20 ha alkaline soil area in Binh Giang commune, Kien Luong district.

To boost the effectiveness of the project, GTZ has provided consultations and transferred technical solutions on tree planting and irrigation for people in targeted areas.

According to surveys, Kien Giang in particular and the Mekong Delta in general have wide areas of alkaline soil which is not suitable for cultivation. Therefore, the implementation of the project will help local people create incomes on alkaline land, helping maintain biodiversity and ensure food security./.