Towards sustainable agricultural development

(Baonghean) - From the Agricultural Department established in 1946, after 70 years of construction and development, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was formed on the basis of merging the sectors of Fisheries, Irrigation and Forestry; the joint efforts of generations of "agriculturalists" in the province have brought about great results, affirming the very important role of this front.

In the early period (1945 - 1975), Nghe An's agriculture and rural development sector made an extremely important contribution to the victory of the resistance war against the French and American invaders, regaining peace and unifying the country. In the difficult years of the post-war recovery period (1975 - 1985), Nghe An's agriculture overcame difficulties, found new directions and achieved remarkable growth, especially in food production, contributing significantly to stabilizing people's lives and the province's economy; many types of products increased 2 - 3 times compared to previous periods, creating the premise for the province's agriculture to move into a period of general innovation. Over the past 30 years, Nghe An's agriculture and rural areas have continuously achieved great and comprehensive achievements.

Harvesting tomatoes in Quynh Luong commune (Quynh Luu). Photo: Quang Dung

In the period of 2010 - 2015, the production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery in Nghe An is estimated to increase by 4.65%; the economic structure within the sector has shifted positively and in the right direction; specialized areas for commodity production have been formed and developed according to market demand; productivity and output of crops and livestock have increased rapidly, increasing added value per unit area. New rural construction has become a widespread movement throughout the province; it is expected that by the end of 2015, 114 communes and Thai Hoa Town will meet the new rural standards, exceeding the set target. In 2015, the total export turnover of agriculture, forestry and fishery of the province is estimated to reach over 130 million USD, contributing with the agricultural sector of the whole country to make our country one of the largest agricultural, forestry and fishery exporting countries in the world...

Taking care of vegetables in Hung Dong commune (Vinh city). Photo: PH

Rice productivity has been continuously increasing; by 2015, rice productivity is estimated at 52.8 quintals/ha, rice output is 971,150 tons; meat output is 212 thousand tons; forest coverage is 55%; total output of exploitation and aquaculture is 147,500 tons; salt output is 91,000 tons. The whole province has 4,000 hectares of raw cassava, with an output of about 160 thousand tons, providing enough raw materials for 2 cassava starch processing factories in Thanh Chuong and Yen Thanh; 20,000 hectares of peanuts with an output of about 46,000 tons; 30,000 hectares of raw sugarcane with an output of about 2 million tons, meeting the capacity of 3 sugar processing factories in the area. Along with that are long-term industrial crop material areas such as 8,000 hectares of tea with a yield of up to 120 quintals of fresh tea buds/hectare, with an estimated output of 75,000 tons...

Spring rice harvest in Yen Thanh. Photo by Phu Huong

Forms of production organization have developed strongly. The province currently has 640 cooperatives (of which 458 agricultural cooperatives operate effectively), over 3,000 farms and family farms.

Along with ensuring national food security, the province's agricultural sector participates in exporting a number of agricultural, forestry and fishery products with increasing quantity and value. Many concentrated commodity production areas have been formed, creating a volume of goods as raw materials for the processing and export industry. Many agricultural, forestry and fishery products are highly competitive, occupying an important position in the domestic and international markets such as: tea, rubber, seafood, forestry products... In addition, from mobilizing resources well, especially projects from the central government and ODA, building infrastructure systems for irrigation, river dykes, sea dykes, rural domestic water,... to meet the requirements of agricultural production development and improving people's lives; Thousands of irrigation works have been built and upgraded in the past 70 years, including many large-scale and modern works such as: Vach Bac - Song Bung irrigation system, Nam Dan, Ben Thuy, Nghi Quang sluices, Bac irrigation system, Nam irrigation system, Vuc Mau, Song Sao, Ban Mong lakes, etc.; hundreds of other dams and pumping stations, thousands of kilometers of canals, dykes and embankments have been formed, which is a great achievement of the province. Thanks to the development of production, the lives of rural people have been continuously improved, enriching their cultural and spiritual life; most rural areas in the whole province have been and are developing very rapidly.

Acknowledging the achievements of the Nghe An Agriculture and Rural Development sector over the past 70 years, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Ho Duc Phoc stated: In the new development period, especially the successful implementation of the goals of the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress, in addition to opportunities and advantages, the province's economy continues to face many difficulties and challenges. The Agriculture and Rural Development sector needs to continue to promote the achievements of 70 years of construction and development, potentials and strengths to build a comprehensively developed agriculture in the direction of modernity, large-scale commodity production; promote the application of science and technology and restructuring the sector towards increasing added value and sustainable development, improving the material and spiritual life of people in rural areas.

To continue promoting the industry's tradition and contributing to the overall development of the country, in the coming years, Nghe An's agriculture and rural development sector will continue to strive to build a comprehensive and sustainable agricultural development; improve the efficiency of land, water, labor and capital use; improve the income and living standards of farmers, fishermen, salt farmers and foresters. The target from now to 2020 is that the growth rate of agricultural, forestry and fishery production value will reach 4.5 - 5%/year; the economic structure of the sector will include 77% agriculture, 9% forestry and 14% fishery; forest coverage will reach 57%; the proportion of rural people using standard domestic water will be 85% and the proportion of communes meeting NTM criteria will reach over 50% (more than 216 communes).

Director of Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Ho Ngoc Sy said: To achieve that goal, the industry is determined to continue promoting the restructuring of crops, large-scale production, associated with preservation, processing and consumption of agricultural products according to the value chain; quickly apply scientific and technological advances to production, develop concentrated raw material areas associated with export processing, form high-tech agricultural production areas, increase productivity, quality, efficiency and adapt to climate change; develop post-harvest technology in a modern direction; rapidly develop livestock farming in both quantity and quality, shift from small-scale to concentrated farming and high-tech application. Encourage the organization of closed production, linking between stages in the value chain to reduce costs, increase efficiency and added value, and ensure food hygiene and safety.

Increase investment in construction and upgrading of agricultural and rural infrastructure in a synchronous manner. Continue to promote the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development, innovate production organization forms in agricultural production, and create a favorable environment for enterprises to invest in the agricultural and rural sectors.

Phu Huong