Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc visits Mỹ Xương Cooperative in Cao Lãnh District, Đồng Tháp Province.  VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc urged Đồng Tháp Province to mobilise and boost diversification of investment models in agricultural development.

The prime minister made his request at a meeting with authorities of the Mekong River Delta province yesterday, after listening to and analysing the province’s agricultural restructuring plan.

Đồng Tháp is the first locality in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta to participate in the “Restructuring the agricultural sector until 2020 and vision to 2030" government project to enhance sustainable development.

Prime Minister Phúc commended the province’s past achievements in agriculture restructuring, saying it should be considered a pioneer and a bright example for other provinces to follow.

Phúc also expressed confidence the province will become a model of agricultural production efficiency and sustainability in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta and the whole country.

Đồng Tháp province is known as the country’s granary. It is the best region for growing fruit trees, such as mango Cao Lãnh, Châu Thành longan, Lai Vung mandarin, Phong Hòa grapefruit, and many other short-term crops.

Like other Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces, the province is suffering from climate change, particularly in agricultural production.

But with strong determination and unity among local authorities and people, the province has maintained its economic growth target in the first six months of the year at 6.02 per cent.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with authorities of the Mekong Delta province of Vĩnh Long on Saturday to discuss overcoming saline intrusion and restructuring agricultural production.

With its economy relying on agriculture, Vĩnh Long suffered greatly from drought and saline intrusion during the first half of 2016. Rice yield and output in the period fell 10.6 per cent year on year, while tra fish (catfish) production dropped 8.3 per cent, resulting in a 3.9 per cent reduction in the total agro-forestry-fishery production value to VNĐ9.4 trillion (US$423 million).

At the function, local leaders appealed for aid from the State to build irrigation systems, including those in Trà On and Vũng Liêm districts, in response to saltwater intrusion.

Nodding his approval, PM Phúc said Vĩnh Long should focus on natural disaster prevention and global economic integration.

As the El Nino phenomenon persists, Vĩnh Long needs to come up with more creative measures, he said, suggesting changing agricultural production towards plants and animals adaptive to saline environment. He also highlighted the importance of employing advanced farming technologies to increase productivity.

The Prime Minister reminded the province to prepare for the implementation of several free trade agreements that Vietnam is participating in, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

He requested Vĩnh Long to improve its business climate, alongside overhauling administrative procedures and facilitating start-ups.

PM Phúc visited and presented gifts to the heroic mother Phan Thị Hồng, whose only son sacrificed his life for the country.

He also talked to workers at the Taiwanese-funded Vĩnh Long footwear company, which has operated in the locality for ten years and employs 18,400 people. — VNS