Dong Thap leaders meet Ministry delegation on Vietnam – RoK agricultural cooperation

(DTO) On the afternoon of July 22, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thien, Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, together with leaders of provincial departments and agencies, received and held a working session with a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to discuss Vietnam - Republic of Korea (RoK) agricultural cooperation programmes. The delegation was led by Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Accordingly, the Ministry is coordinating with the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to develop a proposal for the "Mekong Delta Multi-functional Rice Development Complex Project." The initiative aims to develop a high-quality, low-emission rice value chain, boosting farmers' incomes, enhancing the global competitiveness of Vietnamese rice, and driving commitments to green growth and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

The project will be prioritized in Dong Thap and An Giang provinces. Each complex requires approximately 6–12 hectares of land over a four-year period (2026–2029). The total estimated investment is US$9 million, including US$8 million in South Korean grant aid and US$1 million in Vietnamese counterpart funding.

According to the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, the project perfectly aligns with the Government's sustainable development scheme for 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice cultivation and the province's agricultural restructuring strategy. Dong Thap commits to providing sufficient counterpart resources, including land, connecting infrastructure, and personnel, in accordance with foreign aid regulations.

Regarding the "Enhancing Sesame Productivity and Strengthening the Sesame Value Chain in Vietnam" project, its core objective is to improve cultivation technologies and post-harvest value chains, and enhancing the capacity of cooperative groups, cooperatives, and the Farmers' Union.

Implemented in Dong Thap and Nghe An provinces, the project will support each locality with one agricultural processing demonstration model covering approximately 1,500 square metres, one sesame seed multiplication demonstration area of about 10,000 square metres, and one sesame oil processing system, with a total funding of US$4,776,243.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuoc Thien instructed the Ba Sao Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the Provincial Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Centre to promptly complete land procedures, creating the most favourable conditions for contractors to fast-track construction of the sesame value chain project.

Regarding the rice development complex, Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuoc Thien requested the delegation to provide detailed project blueprints so the province can assess its feasibility, ensuring maximum efficiency aligned with Dong Thap's unique soil and agricultural conditions. 

By DUONG UT
Translated by X.QUANG