Strengthening Agriculture's Contribution to the Economy

Despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges in the past time, the agricultural sector of Phu Tho province has endeavored to obtain outstanding achievements, made important contributions to growth and affirmed its supporting role in the economy.

The tea industry in Phu Tho province is a thriving sector that contributes significantly to the local economy

Outstanding achievements

Given both advantages and disadvantages, with the concerted effort and creativity of all levels of government, the business community and the people, the agricultural sector has maintained fairly high growth. The growth rate of added value in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector was estimated to reach VND9,118 trillion, contributing 18.7% of the province's GRDP. The average income value per hectare of agricultural, forestry and fishery area was estimated at over VND125.5 million, helping improve people's livelihoods and stabilize political and social affairs.

Production forms have significantly reformed. Collective economy, agricultural cooperatives and farms have developed well. By the end of 2023, the province was forecast to have 400 agricultural cooperatives, 351 farms, and 93 safe agricultural, forest and aquatic food supply chains, helping increase product value (by 15 - 20%). Many chains have established a system of agents and convenience stores across the country.

Phu Tho province has 450 farms with a total area of 19,600 ha, including 157 high-quality rice growing areas (9,600 ha), 70 high quality tea areas (5,800 ha), 166 grapefruit areas (2,700 ha), 33 banana areas (over 1,000 ha) and 24 vegetable areas (430 ha). Concentrated pig farms account for 37.7% of the total pig herd, concentrated chicken farms account for 34.3% of the total herd, concentrated cow farms account for 4.8% of the total herd. The province also has 40 large tree growing areas (4,400 ha) and 65 aquaculture farms (1,300 ha).

The province has established, licensed and managed 74 codes for 65 growing areas with a total acreage of 32,000 ha (27 codes for export applied to 664.3 ha; 47 codes for domestic consumption applied to 2,500 ha) and 01 packaging facility code for export. Some production cooperation models have facilitated mechanized production and technological application. Some merchants have signed cooperation agreements to purchase production outputs.

A number of agricultural products have been protected by intellectual property rights and well branded on the market such as Doan Hung grapefruit, Phu Tho tea, Thanh Son sour meat, Hung Lo rice noodle and Tu Xa organic vegetable. To date, 151 OCOP products are certified 3-star class or higher. Hoai Trung tea was recognized as a 5-star OCOP product.

Promoting high-tech agriculture

To develop commercial agriculture and enhance productivity and quality, Phu Tho province has focused on agricultural restructuring to increase added value and sustainable development; formed large-scale commercial production areas; and fostered the transfer and application of science and technology.

Mr. Tran Tu Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phu Tho province said: In order to flexible adapt to actual situations, the agricultural sector will speed up information and communications on high-tech agricultural development support policies and programs to people and businesses. At the same time, the sector will propose adjusting and supplementing high-tech agricultural development support policies based on actual situations, and assist people and businesses to unlock local advantages and strengths.

In addition, the agricultural sector will direct production scale and area expansion, apply scientific advances and high technologies to production, with focus on resistant seed technologies, new varieties and indigenous varieties of high quality and value. The sector will practice animal husbandry farming applied with safety standards and processes to increase the biotech share; and apply high-tech to develop crop and livestock production areas that are certified with standard certifications, granted area codes, developed branding, image and digital transformation to promote production cooperation and product consumption.

At the same time, the sector will actively expand cooperation with agencies and experts to promptly access new technological production advances and attract and invite organizations and individuals to develop high-tech agricultural production for some local products such as livestock, vegetable and tea.

By Manh Dung, Vietnam Business Forum