Tien Giang restructures agricultural production
Tien Giang (VNA) – The
Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang plans to invest nearly 1.4 trillion VND (62
million USD) in restructuring agricultural production in the province’s eastern
part, part of efforts to reduce damage caused by drought and saline intrusion.
According to Cao Van Hoa, acting
director of the provincial Department of Agriculture, and Rural Development, the
restructuring will be implemented from 2016-2020 in 30,000 ha of farm land
across 38 communes, three wards and four towns in Cho Gao, Go Cong Tay, Go Cong
Dong and Tan Phu Dong districts, and Go Cong township.
The project aims to optimise the
use of cultivating land by changing the pattern of crops and multiplying intensive
farming models while promoting switching to plants resistant to forecast
changes in climate.
Local farmers will be encouraged
to reduce the cultivation of rice from three crops to two crops a year using
intensive farming techniques. In areas along rivers and the coast with high
risks of saline intrusion, rice will be replaced by fruit trees, grass for
animal husbandry or aquaculture farms.
To serve the project, the
province has invested nearly 50 billion VND (2.25 million USD) to dredge and
upgrade Canal 14, which is the main channel bringing fresh water from Tien
river to coastal communes in Go Cong Dong district and Go Cong township.
Tien Giang is also building
three sluices to prevent saline intrusion and store fresh water in Go Cong area
with capital of 89 billion VND (4 million USD). The sluices are expected to be
completed within this year.-VNA