Farmers tend to luffa plants in the southern province of Cần Thơ. The province is recommending farmers to convert inefficient rice growing areas to intensive orchards or vegetable farms. VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

HCM CITY – The Cần Thơ City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to develop its agricultural production to meet gross domestic product (GRDP) of 1.2 per cent by the end of this year.

The agriculture sector aims to sow the summer-autumn crop on an area of 74,713 ha, a yield of 5.9 tonnes per ha, and output of nearly 441,000 tonnes, exceeding 1.51 per cent of its original plan.

The autumn - winter rice crop on an area of 64,000 ha expects a yield of 5.25 tonnes per ha, and an output of 336,000 tonnes, exceeding 8.43 per cent of its plan.

In addition, vegetables and plants would be cultivated on 14,500 ha, exceeding 10.6 per cent of the plan, which are expected to produce 159,500 tonnes, exceeding 17 per cent of the plan.

With an area of fruit trees, the city strives to reach 20,500 hectares with an expected output of 159,500 tonnes, exceeding 30.9 per cent of the plan.

Breeding aims for a total of 5,000 cows, exceeding 5.26 per cent of the plan; 130,000 pigs, exceeding 0.78 per cent of the plan; 2 million heads of poultry, exceeding 3.9 per cent of the plan.

This would ensure total output of livestock and poultry meat at 39,000 tonnes, exceeding 2.63 per cent of the plan.

Regarding fisheries, the city strives for a total aquaculture area of 8,250 hectares, and output of 205,500 tonnes, exceeding 2.24 per cent of the plan.

Nguyễn Tấn Nhơn, deputy director of the department, said that to meet the targets, the department would focus on providing accurate and timely information about hydrometeorology and risk of diseases. It would also focus on rural infrastructure investment; use of scientific and technical advances; and quality inspection of varieties, fertilisers and pesticides to avoid fake and poor quality products.

In the field of animal husbandry and fisheries, the city would coordinate with units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide quality breeds to farmers and guide the application of biosafety breeding measures and environmental sanitation.

It would also intensify hygiene and disinfect the breeding environment, increase the vaccination of cattle and poultry; and strictly control the transportation, trading, and slaughter of cattle, poultry and wildlife, Nhơn added.

According to the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first months of 2020, the agricultural sector faced many difficulties due to the impact of drought, freshwater shortage and saltwater intrusion, causing some species to harm plants and aquaculture. This led to increased costs. — VNS