Honeydew melons grown in a net house in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province’s Bà Rịa City. — Photo www.baobariavungtau.com.vn

BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU — The southern coastal province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu plans to set up a 1,073ha high-tech agricultural zone in the next five years.

It will come up in Châu Đức District.

It will improve productivity and quality of agricultural products, enhancing their competitiveness and enable the creation of new-style rural areas besides creating jobs and improving incomes for local people.

The project is estimated to cost around VNĐ1.32 trillion (US$56.4 million), with the money coming entirely from private investors.

Public funds would be used for building infrastructure outside the zone such as roads, water and power supply systems and drainage.

The zone will have three separate areas for farming, processing and related services.

By 2025 it is expected to generate annual revenues of VNĐ712 million ($30,500) per hectare and profits of VNĐ411 million ($17,600).

The province seeks to mechanise and modernise its agriculture by establishing high-tech agricultural firms, piloting efficient models of hi-tech use in farming and processing and building value chains from production and processing to consumption.

The proposed zone will have 114ha under flowers and vegetables, nearly 15ha under mushrooms, 622ha under fruits, and 153ha under perennial cash crops such as pepper and cacao.

A 2.75ha area will be earmarked for processing facilities and services.

Lê Tuấn Quốc, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, has instructed the project’s consultants to consider construction of reservoirs to store water from the Rây River to irrigate the zone.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will work with the consultants unit to complete the feasibility report and submit it to the provincial authorities for approval.

Sixty one high-tech agricultural facilities are operating successfully in the province. — VNS