Building Sustainable Agriculture

Being considered key economic sector of the province, the growth rate of agricultural sector, in 5 years from 2008 to 2012, reached 7.1 percent per year. Currently, Gia Lai is the biggest sugarcane and cassava producer in the country. The province has also formed intensive crop areas such as Ia Grai, Chu Se, Chu Prong, K Bang.

In general, two main areas of Gia Lai’s agriculture, livestock and farming, are well oriented and planned. Chu Se brand pepper, with good quality, is exported to many countries around the world. The agricultural sector has contributed to changing the Central Highlands province, people's lives are improving and contributing to the structure of the local economy.

 

According Mr Kpa Thuyen, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Gia Lai province, said that great achievements are thanks to natural factors, in addition to socio-economic factors. With fertile soil and temperate climate suitable for the development of industrial crops of high economic value such as rubber, pepper, coffee and sugar, Gia Lai’s agriculture sector is also receiving attention of authorities at all levels, especially the direct leadership of the province with the cooperation of the relevant industries. The investment in agriculture in the province is increasingly focused on. Investment capital for agriculture and forestry sector in 2012 reached VND1,641.8 billion. The hard-working people are another factor contributing to the success of the agriculture sector of Gia Lai.

 

However, due to the impact of the current global recession, commodity prices fluctuate. Low consumption has led to difficulties in the output of agricultural products. To overcome the difficulties step by step, towards building sustainable agriculture and improving the quality of life for farmers, in recent years, Gia Lai province has boldly launched several major appropriate policies such as crop planning issue associated with the processing industry in the province of Gia Lai towards 2015 and vision to 2020 under Decision 681/QD-UBND on 7th October, 2010. Besides, in recent time, the province has implemented Decision 80/2002/QD-TTg and Instruction 25/2008/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on policies encouraging consumption of agricultural products under contract. This is to encourage enterprises to coordinate with farmers to produce pepper and high-quality coffee in order to increase their competitiveness in the market and to form and develop brands of local agricultural products.

 

The provincial agricultural sector has made several efforts through programs and projects bringing scientific advances into production and improving farming and livestock techniques to increase productivity of crops and reduce cost. In addition, the provincial agricultural sector has established production partnerships and built value chain of plants and animals in the area mainly to create links among producers themselves and between farmers and producers, which helps farmers gradually develop the collective economy in the new collaboration model and reduces production risks.

 

In addition, the province also focuses on other areas such as investment in transport, irrigation, and transferring in new varieties to contribute to increasing productivity and quality and reduce prices of agricultural products, thereby raising the competitiveness of the strong local products.

 

Particularly, in order to increase the value and competitiveness of agricultural products, the province is focusing on the development of agro-forestry products, one of the most important contents in the restructuring of agricultural economics and rural development towards industrialization and modernization.

It is hoped that with the efforts of local authority, people and businesses in the area, agriculture of Gia Lai will continue to reap success.