Planning agricultural centers in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region

The Prime Minister has just approved the Planning for the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

According to the Prime Minister's Decision, in the 2031–2050 period, the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region strives for an average growth rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of about 7.5–8.0%/year. By 2050, the average GRDP per capita at current prices will reach about USD 15,000–18,000; the human development index (HDI) will reach over 0.75; people's lives will be happy; and national defense and security will be firmly guaranteed.

Regarding agricultural development, the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region will focus on developing the agricultural economy in the direction of commodity agriculture, safe, organic, green, clean, specialty, circular, highly efficient, sustainable production, adapting to climate change, creating products with specific brands, and high-quality OCOP products. Form concentrated, specialized production areas with appropriate scale associated with processing and domestic and foreign markets.

Maintain rice areas in localities, especially areas of rice with high productivity and efficiency and high-value specialty rice concentrated mainly in Dien Bien, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, and Thai Nguyen. Develop a number of major industrial crops associated with processing and consumption, such as: tea concentrated mainly in Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, and Tuyen Quang; coffee mainly in Son La and Dien Bien; and macadamia mainly in Dien Bien, Lai Chau, and Son La.

According to the planning, Thai Nguyen province will become a tea processing center, and Lai Chau will become a macadamia processing center. Fruit and specialty tree areas will be mainly concentrated in Son La, Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, and Phu Tho; cinnamon and star anise areas will be mainly located in Lang Son, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, and Cao Bang. Areas for growing high-quality temperate vegetables and flowers will be developed in areas with specific conditions and climates, such as Lao Cai, Son La, and Lai Chau. Son La will be developed into an agricultural product processing center in the Northwest region.

The Northern Midlands and Mountainous region is planned to develop the forest economy and the economy under the forest canopy in parallel with the task of protecting and developing forests and improving the lives of forest workers, associated with the task of maintaining national security in terms of water resources, energy, and forest protection.

Develop raw forest areas associated with the wood and paper processing industries, concentrated mainly in Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, and Yen Bai. Build Phu Tho and Tuyen Quang to become the region's wood and paper processing centers. Promote the development of services from forests, such as forest eco-tourism; supplying wood and non-timber forest products; forest environmental services; and participating in the carbon credit market, considering this a great potential and advantage that needs to be exploited effectively. Focus on developing medicinal plants under forest canopy mainly in the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bac Kan and developing multi-purpose crop areas.

Develop cattle and poultry farming in areas with large livestock scales, such as Ha Giang, Son La, Bac Giang, and Phu Tho. Develop freshwater aquaculture in provinces with large natural and specialized water surface areas, such as Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai. Expand aquaculture in the lakebed area of irrigation and hydroelectric structures.

Form research centers for plant breeding and technology transfer in areas with large, concentrated development and areas with favorable roles and positions in supplying and transferring technology to neighboring localities.

Form and develop a number of high-tech agricultural production areas and zones in regions and localities with suitable conditions, such as Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Son La, Tuyen Quang, and Hoa Binh.

Prioritize attracting investment in agricultural projects and creating technological breakthroughs in agricultural development. Promote digital transformation in agriculture and apply digital technology and automation to production and business processes; manage and monitor product origin and supply chain.