Farmers in Xuan Hai commune (Ninh Hai) harvest grapes. Photo: Van Mien

The Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress sets out the task of promoting the restructuring of the agricultural sector in conjunction with the climate change adaptation program and new rural area construction; rapidly increasing the proportion of the livestock industry to gradually become the main production sector, gradually forming specific agricultural zones applying high technology (CNC) associated with processing, export and tourism development, continuing to build Ninh Thuan into a center for high-quality shrimp seed production in the country. Closely following the resolution, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) concretizes and proposes appropriate solutions for effective implementation. After half of the implementation term, the agricultural sector has had stable and quite comprehensive development, serving as a support for the economy when facing difficulties, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total production value of the industry by the end of 2023 is expected to reach more than 13,576 billion VND, the average growth rate is 5.12%/year, the added value is 5.3%/year, exceeding the set target by 1.3%. The policy of restructuring the agricultural sector associated with the application of science and technology, adapting to climate change has been focused on implementation, achieving positive results. The crop cultivation sector has been restructured towards the application of CNC associated with promoting the efficiency of the Tan My irrigation system, so the area of ​​land for proactive irrigation reached 62.38%, an increase of 2.38% compared to 2020 and more than 1,920 hectares of ineffective land have been converted to specific crops with high economic efficiency, reaching 76.83% of the resolution target; the consumption price of specific agricultural products is stable and brings an average economic efficiency 4 times higher, reducing the amount of irrigation water by more than 70% compared to rice production.

People's awareness has clearly and positively changed in organizing production to adapt to climate change. The average production value per hectare of cultivated land reached 143.8 million VND/ha/year, an increase of 22.7 million VND compared to 2020; the production value of the crop sector in the period 2021-2023 increased by an average of 6.3%/year. As of June 2023, the whole province had 15 growing areas granted growing area codes by the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) with a scale of 215,534 hectares. In particular, the Phuoc Binh grapefruit growing area (Bac Ai) with an area of ​​23 hectares has met the requirements of the US market.

Regarding promoting the development of CNC agriculture, initial results have been achieved. It is estimated that by the end of 2023, 12/15 targets will be on schedule, forming production areas and attracting CNC agricultural enterprises and projects with positive results. 15 specialized export-oriented areas have been formed, developing more than 515 hectares of CNC agricultural production area, reaching 51.57% of the plan; 4 CNC agricultural enterprises have been formed, exceeding the set target (target of 2-3 enterprises); attracting investment in 37 CNC agricultural projects to come into operation. The value of CNC agricultural production reached 938 million VND/ha/year (target 700 million VND/ha/year), an average increase of 32.31%/year, contributing 13.16% to the production value of the entire agricultural sector, an increase of 7.16% compared to 2020. Advanced production models, application of science and technology were replicated; productivity and quality of some main crops were improved, especially the development of specific fruit tree areas such as: grapes, apples, green-skinned grapefruit...

The task of developing livestock farming into a key production sector has been focused on, especially livestock farming in the direction of bio-safety, concentrated farms, high efficiency associated with disease prevention and control, achieving results, gradually going into depth; production chains linked to product consumption continue to expand. The whole province currently has 105 CNC-applied farms; the herd size has developed stably, increasing by an average of 4.5%/year; the quality of livestock has been improved, maintaining the proportion of crossbred goats and sheep at 90% and the proportion of crossbred cows at 51%. The value of livestock production increased by an average of 6.34%/year, accounting for 12.2% of the entire agricultural sector, up 0.4% compared to the beginning of the term.

Sorting apples at Ba Moi Grape Farm. Photo: Phan Binh

The policy of restructuring the seafood exploitation industry towards developing offshore fishing associated with protecting sea and island sovereignty has been focused on; the model of cooperation in production at sea has been promoted and expanded; exploitation capacity has been improved, it is estimated that by the end of 2023, the whole province will have 834 vessels participating in offshore fishing, an increase of 57 vessels compared to 2020. Fisheries logistics services have developed quite well, quality has been improved; annual exploitation output has reached over 120,000 tons, exceeding the set target. The policy of building Ninh Thuan into a center for producing high-quality shrimp seeds in the country has achieved the set target; production capacity has increased rapidly, supplying about 30% of the country's demand; the average annual output has reached 40 billion. Aquaculture in the direction of marine farming, prioritizing deep water areas and shifting from commercial shrimp to high-value seafood has achieved positive results; Aquaculture production value in the period 2021-2023 increased by an average of 3.51%/year.

The field of new rural construction associated with rural economic development has been of interest to sectors and localities. It is estimated that by the end of 2023, the whole province will have 2/7 districts and cities meeting the new rural district standards; 33/47 communes meeting the new rural commune standards, reaching 70.2%, of which 14 communes meet the advanced new rural commune standards; 50/254 villages meeting the new rural village standards, of which 2 villages meet the model new rural village standards.

Comrade Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: To complete the targets set by the Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress on the agricultural sector, from now until the end of the term, the agricultural sector will focus on attracting investment to develop agricultural and rural infrastructure, improve the capacity to effectively adapt to climate change; in which, focusing on restructuring the irrigation sector towards applying water-saving irrigation technology, connecting reservoirs, connecting irrigation systems to improve the efficiency of water use. Complete the zoning plan of hi-tech agricultural zones and areas to attract investment from economic sectors to develop hi-tech agricultural applications. Develop the agricultural economy towards integrating multi-value production, business, and agricultural services associated with agricultural and rural tourism. Complete the project on developing sustainable agricultural production in the irrigation area of ​​the Tan My irrigation system to develop hi-tech fruit growing areas for export.

Mr. Tung