(VOVworld) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked its branches to map out detailed plans for implementing the government plan to restructure agriculture and rural development. The plans must focus on three areas – cultivation, husbandry, and aquaculture.

Since the government’s plan for restructuring agriculture and rural development was launched a year ago, many localities have implemented restructuring plans with a view to improving added values and ensuring sustainable development.

Minister Cao Duc Phat announces the project to restructure agricultural sub-sectors

To reach these targets, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced a program to restructure crop production, livestock, and fisheries sub-sectors for which localities must design their own specific action plans. Minister Cao Duc Phat says:

“The program has changed the way of approaching agricultural development to one is based on three main pillars of sustainable growth - economy, society, and the environment. The program aims to develop the sector in line with market changes and consumer demand. The government will move from being a direct supplier into creating a healthy business environment for various economic sectors to operate effectively and improve the sector’s investment and service quality. This program also encourages closer links between the state, businesses, and farmers to create value chains.”

The new program focusing on crop production, husbandry, and aquaculture will leverage science and technology. It targets a 20% rise in Vietnam’s agricultural output after a decade.

The program focuses on areas in which Vietnam has advantages such as rice, coffee, and tra fish, but at a higher development level to generate nationally branded products. Vietnam will encourage public and private sectors to work with international organizations to build a technical process in which enterprises and government will help farmers abide by the set standards to turn out safe products with high volume, quality, and value. Policy improvements are also expected, according to Tran Trong Binh, deputy Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development. Ninh explains further:

“We must clarify the direction of restructuring with policies that support the reshuffling of each branch. Reforming the institution and improving the legal system should be taken into consideration during the restructuring process.”

Part of the land for rice cultivation will be changed to growing the crops that can bring in higher productivity.

Under the action plans on agriculture restructuring, the farming industry will work with agencies and localities to build large-scale specialized zones for growing trees. In these zones, advanced technologies can be applied for mass production. Investment will be prioritized to the regions which can turn out major agricultural produce in the Central Highlands, central coast, and northern mountains.

The husbandry industry will link breeding facilities and farms with processors, and consumer markets while ensuring epidemic disease prevention.

Master-planning remains a top concern of aquaculture exporting, one of Vietnam’s highest potential industries. The aquaculture sector will complete policies on managing aquatic resources in coastal regions, attract investment capital, and set up a fund for regeneration of aquatic resources.

A year after the government plan was announced, half of the provinces and cities in Vietnam have created restructuring plans.