Strict management of rice land is essential to ensure food security.

(Baonghean.vn) - This afternoon, April 4th, under the chairmanship of Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee held a working session with relevant departments to hear and give opinions on the approval of the Land Use Planning for Rice Cultivation in Nghe An Province until 2020 and with consideration to 2030. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Department of Science and Technology of the province participated in the working session.

Scene from the working session

As of January 1, 2012, Nghe An province had over 106,212 hectares of rice land, with an average rice land area per capita of 0.04 hectares (higher than the national average). Between 2000 and 2012, the province's rice-growing land area decreased by 4,465.96 hectares. With the goal of strictly managing the province's rice land resources, ensuring food security in line with socio-economic development, national defense, and security objectives, and simultaneously implementing policies to protect, manage, and develop rice land, the plan aims to stabilize the rice area at 96.1 thousand hectares by 2020 (a reduction of nearly 10,500 hectares compared to the current area) and further reduce it by 3,530 hectares by 2030, stabilizing it at 92.3 thousand hectares. The plan designates approximately 8,400 hectares of high-tech rice cultivation areas by 2020 and 28,000 hectares by 2030. Simultaneously, it aims to convert rice land to other uses and vice versa to create harmonious development in agriculture and rural areas, promoting industry and services based on the efficient use of rice land resources.

After listening to the comments from relevant departments, Comrade Dinh Viet Hong stated: To effectively implement the rice land use plan in the coming years, all levels and sectors need to research and propose solutions to promptly address climate change and improve the efficiency of rice production. Focus on developing specific solutions regarding communication; scientific and technological solutions; land reclamation to expand rice cultivation areas and convert other rice land into specialized rice-growing land; solutions for building infrastructure to serve production; climate change adaptation; rice market development; and policy and mechanism solutions. He also requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to incorporate the comments from relevant departments and sectors to supplement necessary content in order to finalize and approve the Nghe An province rice land use plan up to 2020 and with consideration to 2030.

Phu Huong