Phu Tho Agriculture - Changing for the Better
Having implemented six major programmes on agricultural development, Phu Tho province's agriculture has changed for the better in recent years, meeting the local people's demand and exporting some products of great potential. As a result, the local people’s living standard has improved.
Food production has seen a rapid development with an annual growth rate of 8.4 per cent, bringing per capital food volume from 277.6 to 320.8 kilograms per year. Tea is a spearhead crop, which is suitable with land and climatic conditions in Phu Tho province. Also, the crop has a high export value. The province’s tea growing area increased from 8,437 hectares in 2001 to 12,319 hectares in 2004, or up by 46 per cent. Output of fresh tea buds reached 60,500 tonnes in 2004, up by 93.3 per cent against that of 2001. The volume of processed tea rose from 18,120 tonnes in 2001 to 21,770 tonnes in 2004. Of this figure, 10,320 tonnes were exported. Most of the tea growing area in Phu Tho province uses LDP1 and LDP2 varieties. Some other new varieties including Keo Am Tich and Phuc Van Tien are being farmed on a trial basis. So far, area for growing tea seedlings has occupied 30 per cent of the province’s total area for tea growing. The province now has seven tea processing mills together with over 45 private establishments with a total capacity of 101,000 tonnes of fresh buds per year, let alone 23 nursery gardens, capable of producing 60.28 million cuttings per year.
Alongside tea, Phu Tho province has paid careful attention to development of its speciality - Doan Hung grapefruit. By late 2004, the province had grown 140 hectares of Doan Hung grapefruit.
Animal husbandry has seen a rapid development in the province in recent years. The province has developed dairy cow farming in three districts of Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong and Lam Thao. The province has focused on farming of lean pigs for export. As a result, the province’s total number of pigs reached 530,418 in 2003. The farming of pigs for export has been developed in 26 communes with 96 households in the districts of Lam Thao and Phu Ninh, Viet Tri city and Phu Tho town.
After two years’ implementation, Phu Tho’s aquaculture area reached 6,969 hectares, higher than the yearly plan of 6,500 hectares for 2005, with an output of 12,577 tonnes, up by 34.7 per cent against that of 2001. Production value was put at VND 91.01 billion, increasing by 34.6 per cent over that of 2001.
With a target of developing its existing forest fund in combination with protecting the environment and tapping its potential for planting material forests for the paper industry, Phu Tho province increased its concentrated forest area from 4,593.9 hectares in 2001 to 6,649 in 2004, up by 44.7 per cent, let alone 1,000 hectares of scattered forest. As a result, the province forest coverage has increased to 43.8 per cent.
To record such an achievement, the province’s authorities have developed proper approaches in restructuring agricultural production, focusing on the commodity-based production. The achievements in agriculture and rural development have contributed to increasing per capita GDP to VND 3.3 million per year (in 2004), or up by 39.8 per cent against 2001.
For the local agricultural sector continue to improve its competitiveness and socio-economic effectiveness, Phu Tho province will concentrate on implementing the following major solutions:
- To develop a farm-produce processing industry to create a stable output market for local farmers. To pilot and develop systems for fruit and vegetable processing. To expand new crafts in rural areas.
- To strengthen and develop agricultural and fisheries extension systems, promoting the scientific and technological application to production, promoting the export of lean pigs.
- To develop strategies on seeking and expanding markets for locally-made farm-produce, boosting the registration of trademark of Doan Hung grapefruit and building up the tea industry’s reputation.
- To prioritise investment in human resource development to provide skilled workers for the province.
At the same time, the province has proposed that the Government and relevant agencies provide further support for the province to develop its trade promotion for tea and Doan Hung grapefruit.
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