VnSAT project creates a leverage to connect intra-field transport infrastructure

Eliminate bottlenecks and complete projects ahead of schedule

Mr. Nguyen Tan Duy, Phuong Hoang Construction-Trading and Service Cooperative (Duc Co district, Gia Lai province), explained that the unit was fortunate to get funding from the VnSAT project to construct two intra-field routes to facilitate access to coffee-producing areas. The road between Ia Krieng and Ia Kel is 5.2 kilometers long and has a total investment of VND 10.6 billion, while the route between Ia Lang and Chu Ty town is six kilometers long and has a total investment of VND 15 billion.

The intra-field routes are currently being constructed and are scheduled to be completed by June. According to Mr. Duy, the routes have been constructed since December of last year, but only a few categories have been completed.

"The execution unit advanced the cost of construction, but I don't understand why the implementation is moving at such a snail's pace," Mr. Duy said, stating that the cooperative serves simply as a supervisor. If there is an issue during the building unit's implementation, it will be communicated to the investor, specifically the project VnSAT Gia Lai.

"The cooperative has recommended several times, but the contract's due date is in June, so we have just taken on the job of supervising and speeding a construction work. If the construction is not completed on time, the execution unit would be accountable to the investor," Mr. Duy stated.

Mr. Le Quoc Tuan, Deputy Director of the VnSAT Project Management Board in Gia Lai, stated that the project invested in five sub-projects totaling VND 64.2 billion in the construction of intra-field roads under the public investment policy. In general, the development of intra-field roads is not fraught with difficulties. In which the roads in the districts of Mang Yang, Dak Doa, and Chu Pah are now under construction and will be completed on time by May 2022.

With the poor pace of building in the Duc Co area as a result of construction bid cancellations, it took several months to select a construction unit.

"We have asked the construction units to expedite the process; assuming no obstacles arise, it will take approximately two months to finish and put into service," Mr. Tuan explained.

Desiring the VnSAT project to expand its route network

In 2022, the VnSAT project in Kon Tum will implement two sub-projects: "Upgrading road system for sustainable coffee production connecting Dak La - Ngoc Wang - Dak Ui communes and Dak Long commune" and "Upgrading traffic system for sustainable coffee production connecting Ha Mon commune, Dak Ha District, Kon Tum province." As a result, eight intra-field traffic routes totaling 41.46 kilometers in length will be constructed. These routes will cost a total of VND 60 billion to build.

Mr. Doan Van Chuong, chairman of the Binh Minh Cooperation team (Binh Minh village, Ha Mon commune, Dak Ha District, Kon Tum province), stated that around 60% of the VnSAT project's traffic routes had been constructed in the commune.

He explained that during the earliest stages of development, the building of the traffic routes encountered challenges and bottlenecks in the land clearing process. As a result, several households required a far higher conversion rate than the land's actual value. It was not until the Cooperation team pushed for and informed the public about the benefits of roadways that served both production and human needs. As a result, all fundamental issues have been properly resolved up to this point.

"VnSAT's investment in the construction of intra-field roads has provided a significant incentive for people in the region to transition to a more sustainable coffee growing model. At the moment, the region is in desperate need of intra-field roads, particularly in Binh Minh village, where around 4-5 kilometers of road need to be developed to service the people's mobility to the production area. We expect that the VnSAT project would continue to invest in upgrading in-field traffic pathways if at all possible "Mr. Chuong stated.

Ms. Duong Thi Thanh Luong, Deputy Director of the VnSAT Kon Tum Project Management Board, stated that approximately 70% of the work on intra-field roads has been finished. 

Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic, the construction progress of the roads and installation packages were more or less affected. To address these obstacles, the VnSAT Project Management Board ordered construction contractors to increase their human resource capacity to complete the job on time. 

According to Ms. Luong, the primary challenge in developing transportation routes is a lack of finance. As projected, the entire cost of road-building exceeds VND 70 billion, but because the construction units bid at a low price of slightly more than VND 60 billion, more than VND 10 billion is still surpassed " Currently, the VnSAT Project Management Board has proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that this extra money be used to continue to fund investment in further roads into rural regions "Ms. Luong has been informed.