Agriculture ministry backs cooperatives to build material zones

HCMC - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will set aside VND145 billion (US$6.3 million) to help agricultural cooperatives build large material zones to develop key farm goods for export.

The ministry held a conference last week to discuss plans this year and implement a Prime Minister’s decision on expansion of a new cooperative model in 2016-2020 in the Mekong Delta.

The ministry will focus on safe material zone projects that will supply processors of key products in the delta for export. In particular, it will help build a green-skin pomelo farming area in Ben Tre Province while Tien Giang Province will become a Hoa Loc mango and dragon growing area with a minimum of 1,000 hectares.

Currently, Vietnam’s green-skin pomelo is exported to the Netherlands, China, Canada, Germany and Russia. Meanwhile, mango and dragon fruits have found their way to the Australian market.

The delta will expand rice material zones to some provinces such as Kien Giang, Can Tho and Long An. Such zones will make it possible to meet high demand of large markets such as the U.S. and Europe.