TOPSHOT - This aerial photo shows vendors selling vegetable at Vi Thanh market in Hau Giang province on October 25, 2023. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
HANOI: Deputy Planning and Investment Minister Tran Duy Dong says the implementation of the Mekong Delta master plan has helped shift the mindset about food security from developing agriculture based primarily on rice to an aquaculture, fruit and rice model to increase value and improve production efficiency.
Speaking at a recent meeting held in Ca Mau province, Dong said that over the past two years of implementing the master plan for 2021-2030 period, ministries and authorities have proactively coordinated with local governments to implement solutions appropriate to each period to fully tap new opportunities.
“We aim to achieve the best results in socio-economic development in general and the development of specific sectors in particular, opening up new opportunities and shaping new values throughout the region,” he said.
The Planning and Investment Ministry has coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies to review mechanisms and policies applied to the region based on proposals from regional local governments.
Accordingly, local governments in the region are permitted to flexibly convert areas of low-efficiency rice cultivation to grow other crops and fruits.
Rice growers will receive special incentives to stabilise the country’s major food production areas, and develop a sustainable agriculture sector.
Dong instructed the Planning and Investment Ministry to propose policies tailored for the region regarding clean water supply for local residents, support for areas with shortages of clean water, and a mechanism conducive for research and investment in large-scale reservoirs.
He also underlined the need for special mechanisms and policies to lure and train high-quality human resources while attracting investment to address issues such as riverbank and coastal erosion, mitigate the impact of climate change, protect and develop forests, and ensure the welfare of people in coastal areas.
Under the direction of the government and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, ministries and local governments in the region have issued action plans and coordinated closely to implement proposed tasks and solutions decisively, he said.
As a result, regional socio-economic development has gradually stabilised in a more sustainable direction.
The region has established itself as a leading centre for the production and export of rice, aquaculture products, and fruits in the country, contributing to ensuring national food security. — Viet Nam News/ANN
