Plan seeks to revitalise Vietnam's agriculture

The plan for the 2012-2020 period “with a vision to 2030” is being drafted by the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Restructuring the agriculture sector would help it recover growth, improve production capacity and competitiveness, increase people’s incomes and protect the environment, institute officials have said.

The plan is to have the sector develop in line with the country’s overarching goals of modernisation and industrialisation, increase employment in rural areas and reduce the income gap between rural and urban areas. The planners have also said that particular attention will be paid to coping with climate change challenges and improving environmental quality.

The plan envisages the development of cash crops that Vietnam has competitive advantages in for both domestic and overseas markets. 

It will also promote production of crops with high added value, like mushroom, flowers and bonsais.

The animal husbandry industry will be developed based on advantages of each ecological region, using modern breeding methods in large-scale farms. The quality of breeding models used by households will also be improved.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta will host a large intensive aquaculture area of about 20,000 hectares.

The animal feed industry and local irrigation systems will also be reorganised, planners said at a recent consultation conference in Ho Chi Minh City. Vu Thanh Tu Anh, director of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Programme under the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, said the Vietnamese agriculture sector should focus on export-driven development not only to earn foreign currency and generate employment, but also gain impetus to improve productivity and competitiveness.