Two agriculture ministry’s projects aim to develop standard raw material areas in VN

On March 29, the ministry organised a conference to kick off the project of piloting to build agricultural and forestry material areas that meet standards for domestic consumption and export in the period of 2022 - 2025 as well as the project of improving the efficiency of agricultural extension activities by consolidating the model of community agricultural extension groups.

The project of piloting to build agricultural and forestry material areas has been implemented in 46 districts and cities of 13 provinces (Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Dong Thap, Long An, Tien Giang, Kien Giang and An Giang).

The aim of the project is to set up raw material areas for agricultural and forestry production on a centralised and modern scale, with the application of advanced technologies on the basis of sustainable linkages between agricultural cooperatives and processing and consuming enterprises to promote quickly, effectively and sustainably the process of restructuring the agricultural sector and building new-style rural areas.

It also aims developing and improving the role and effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in the agricultural value chain; meeting the requirements for quality and reducing the cost of input materials for processing and consuming; increasing income and improving the lives of local people.

The project is implemented in two phases. In the period of 2022 - 2023, there will be five standard material areas with a total area of about 166,800 hectares, consisting of 14,000 ha of fruit trees in the northern mountainous region; 22,900 ha of certified sustainable timber in the coastal central localities; 19,700 ha of coffee in the Central Highlands; 50,000 ha of rice in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle; and 60,200 ha of fruit trees in the Dong Thap Muoi region.

In the period 2024 - 2025, the project will build five centres of processing and storing of raw materials to support cooperatives, including: the rice chain logistics centre (Thao Son district, An Giang province); organic rice - shrimp logistics centre (An Minh district, Kien Giang province); shrimp processing logistics centre (Cu Lao Dung district, Soc Trang province); My Hiep fruit logistics centre (Dong Thap province); and coffee chain logistics center (Gia Lai province).

Forming community agricultural extension groups

The project of improving the efficiency of agricultural extension activities by consolidating the model of community agricultural extension groups is also related to the construction of standard raw material areas.

Specifically, the project aims consolidating and perfecting the grassroots agricultural extension system in the direction of expanding multi-functional services, serving restructure and rural development, contributing to the building of Vietnam's agricultural extension brand, diversifying agricultural extension activities to serve the development of raw material areas and improve productivity, quality and added value of farm produce.

In the period of 2021 - 2023, the project is targeted to form at least 26 community agricultural extension groups in 13 provinces in the raw material areas.

At the same time, it will establish a set of training materials for community agricultural extension groups, including training materials and video clips; and organising activities to improve the capacity of the community agricultural extension groups.

In the period of 2024 - 2025, the project will multiply the community agricultural extension model to 15 provinces in the Red River Delta, the Mekong Delta and some central provinces with similar conditions as the pilot provinces in the first phase. Each province is set to have at least two models of community agricultural extension, operating in four functional groups: transferring agricultural extension technology; supporting cooperative development; supporting markets and linking production along sustainable value chains and supporting digital transformation in agricultural cooperatives.

Le Quoc Thanh, director of the National Centre for Agricultural Extension said the project is a pivotal decision, creating new and extremely important opportunities for activities, mechanisms and forms of the agricultural extension team.

This is an issue relating to the grassroots agricultural extension system that is working directly with the producers. The community agricultural extension group will be the closest link with the producers, he said.

The project is like building a highway for the agricultural extension system then other "routes" will connect to build a strong development when exploiting the system.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said to effectively implement the two projects, the consulting agencies; 14 provinces participating in the projects; businesses; cooperatives and farmers should focus on performing the following tasks: understanding the contents of the project and their responsibilities in implementing the projects; assessing and forecasting difficulties and challenges; and discussing on practical solutions.

At the conference, Thai Nhu Hiep, director of Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd. said the project is an important boost for enterprises' efforts to build raw material areas. Vinh Hiep is currently building a coffee material area in four provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak and Dak Nong. The company's staff often have to move around four provinces, so the construction of raw material areas faces many difficulties without supports of grassroots agricultural extension groups. Therefore, community agricultural extension group is a very good model, helping businesses to reduce a lot of pressure on personnel when building raw material areas.

Vo Quan Huy, director of Long Anh Co., Ltd. said the community agricultural extension group not only guides production techniques but also orient the market. This is very suitable to the requirements of the times./.