The southern province of Tra Vinh will funnel more than 3.6 billion VND (169,200 USD) from its budget to provide agriculture training to around 3,000 underprivileged farmers in the locality.

By 2015, the farmers will receive free training in various fields, including cultivation, breeding, veterinary medicine and horticulture.

This year alone, 42 courses will be organised for more than 1,000 local farmers, at a total expense of 1.3 billion VND (61,100 USD).

Participants will be provided with all learning materials during the course. Those from social welfare beneficiary households will also be supported with 780,000 VND (36.7 USD) while studying.

Launched in 2012, the training programme has helped local farmers apply technological advances to production, creating sustainable farming models and bringing higher profits.

An orchid farming model adopted in Vinh Yen village, Long Duc commune, Tra Vinh city has brought 130 households an income of 500 million VND (23,500 USD) per hectare every year, six times higher than before.-VNA