Remarkable Agricultural Development

In recent years, the agriculture and rural development sector of Tien Giang province has carried out many programs and projects to create strong breakthrough development, Mr. Nguyen Van Man, Director of the Tien Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in an interview given to our reporters.

Leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspect the site of a steel dam to prevent saltwater intrusion along the Phu An River

After nearly a decade of implementing the agricultural restructuring project, what outstanding changes has Tien Giang made?

In recent years, agricultural output has grown steadily with higher quality and yield of fruit trees and fowls. The province has formed many specialized production areas applied with science and technology, especially advanced technology. Key products have initially improved their competitiveness and gradually met consumer tastes in domestic and foreign markets.

Specifically, the average growth was 2.29% in 2013-2022 and over 3% in 2023. In the province's economic structure, the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector decreased from 43.6% in 2013 to 37.2% in 2022 and 35.8% in 2023.

The transfer of science and technology and the application of new technologies has been continuously deployed and widely communicated among the people to persuade them to adopt science and technology in production. This move has boosted productivity growth and rural labor efficiency. The local economic development has helped improve the efficiency of agricultural restructuring and new rural development.

Leaders of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development survey the model of fertilizer reduction in rice production to ensure to agricultural sustainability in Tien Giang province

Some effective production - consumption cooperation models are highly effective on rice, fruit trees, Go Cong chicken, safe vegetables and high-quality rice production. Aligning cooperatives and businesses with other production - consumption cooperation models has initially helped increase farmers' incomes. The province and districts have strongly promoted key agricultural products and attracted companies to invest in agriculture, especially agricultural processing.

Irrigation projects have contributed to stabilizing production, maintaining and improving productivity and crop output. The province has proactively responded to droughts and saltwater intrusion while reducing production costs, enhancing agricultural productivity and competitiveness, increasing incomes and improving living standards for farmers.

The National Target Program on New Rural Development has gradually changed the perception of people. New rural area development has become a practical movement, strongly developed, to raise the material and spiritual life of rural people.

Industrial production in rural areas has developed quite well, contributing to the province's overall industrial growth, enabling effective exploitation and utilization of local raw materials and rural economic restructuring.

With a focus on developing agricultural and non-agricultural products and services with local advantages along the value chain, largely driven by private and collective economic sectors, to boost internal resources and increase values, the OCOP Program is considered a solid foundation for new rural area construction in Tien Giang province. To date, the province appraised 246 products eligible for recognition as OCOP products of 3 stars or more, including a decision to recognize 221 OCOP products (including 94 4-star products and 127 3-star products).

The Tien Giang Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, suggests many aspirations, motivations and opportunities to attract new agricultural investment. What are opportunities for investors in Tien Giang?

The formation of the Tien Giang Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 is quite favorable, especially the National Master Plan and the Mekong Regional Plan clearly define the position and role of Tien Giang province. The development directions of Tien Giang agriculture in the coming time will be as follows:

Developing agriculture, forestry and fisheries based on the application of high technology, biotechnology and genetic technology in research and conservation of key plant varieties, livestock species and aquatic products; breeding high quality plant varieties, livestock species and aquatic products (fresh water, brackish water, salt water) on a suitable scale associated with the processing industry and product branding; restructuring key products towards creating products with high added value to meet market needs of the province, Ho Chi Minh City, the Southeast region and for export.

Carefully selected Durian stock resides in the warehouse in Cai Lay district, awaiting packaging for export to China

Developing agriculture together with comprehensive rural development, associated with synchronous urbanization and social services; improving incomes and life quality to ensure social stability, employment and sustainable poverty reduction; developing key crop groups, including fruit trees in Cai Be, Cai Lay, Tan Phuoc, Chau Thanh, Cho Gao and Cai Lay Town, vegetable production areas in Thanh Chau, Go Cong Dong and Go Cong Town, high-quality rice areas in Cai Be, Cai Lay, Tan Phuoc, Go Cong Tay, Go Cong Dong, Go Cong and Cai Lay, coconut areas in Cho Gao, Chau Thanh, Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Tay.

Developing livestock and poultry farming, mainly in Cho Gao, Chau Thanh, Tan Phuoc and Go Cong Tay; developing forestry with socialized protection and development of protective forests, mainly in Tan Phuoc, Go Cong Dong and Tan Phu Dong districts, contributing to climate change adaptation.

Developing freshwater aquaculture areas in Cai Be, Cai Lay, Chau Thanh districts and Cai Lay Town; developing aquaculture on saline - brackish ecosystems in coastal districts such as Go Cong Dong and Tan Phu Dong.

Thank you very much, sir!

By Thanh Loan, Vietnam Business Forum