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Delta has capacity to boost cultivation of rice, shrimp
Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces can expand the rice-shrimp cultivation model to at least 200,000ha, an expert in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says.
Pham Van Du, Deputy Director of the ministry's Cultivation Department, said the region had rich potential for the combined cropping of rice and shrimp thanks to favourable soil, weather and hydrometeorological conditions.
However, Du also said each province should define their development goals, identify proper cropping techniques and make proper plans to ensure that the model can be sustained.
Farmers in the region are cropping rice and shrimp under the model on an area of 140,000ha in seven provinces including Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Long An.
However, they "are working in a manner that depends too much on nature with inadequate investment, and the result is average yield and an imbalance of production for the next cropping season," Du said.
He called on the provinces to invest in small irrigation systems and seedlings and advised farmers adhere to Global GAP (Global Good Agriculture Practices) when using the model so as to improve produce quality.
The agriculture ministry, meanwhile, has asked provinces in the delta to increase the frequency of cultivation promotion activities and train farmers with the right techniques for implementing rice-shrimp model.
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