The second phase of the project will be carried out in four communes of Binh Dai and Ba Tri districts by the Japanese-funded Seed to Table organisation. The organisation will provide farmers with knowledge and equipment for organic agricultural production and processing.The Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will help build a processing plant in the locality.Speaking at the signing ceremony, Japanese Consul General Kawaue Junichi pledged to provide maximum support for the project.Earlier, Seed to Table received aid worth nearly US$90,000 to implement the first phase of the project.
The project's signing ceremony was held in southern Tien Giang province on July 21 between the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). SOFRI director Nguyen Minh Chau said the project will provide technical assistance and experience in the planting of citrus fruit trees for the five Mekong Delta provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre. The project which was launch earlier this year and will run to 2014 aims to raise local people's living standards. The Mekong Delta region currently has more than 73,000 ha of citrus fruit…... [read more]
Prosperity Initiative (PI) - a non-governmental organisation of the UK- has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a project to help the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre research on coconuts. Under the MoU, PI will assist in improving the management capacity and providing training for local experts with the aim of increasing the value of coconut products, contributing to the socio-economic development and poverty reduction in rural areas. The 3-year project is estimated to cost over US$1.4 million. Currently, 50 percent of the provincial residents earn their living by growing coconuts on an area of around…... [read more]
Ben Tre Province has great tourist potential, yet it is barely met due to a lack of investment, said Nguyen Thai Xay, chairman of the province People's Committee July 1. Speaking at a seminar, "Ben Tre tourism - investment and development opportunities," held by Sai Gon Giai Phong and the province to discuss opportunities and solutions to develop Ben Tre tourism, delegates said that one of difficulties that Ben Tre tourism has to face is inadequate skills. Tour guides in the province are very weak. They do not know how to best introduce the culture and history of the province…... [read more]
Developing organic agriculture in Vietnam Vietnam has more than 70,000 ha of organic farm land in 33 localities. But organic products are rare in the market because of high prices, and a lack of assessment criteria and certification. Customers are confused about clean versus organic products. Le Thanh, Head of the Institute of Viet Nam Organic Agricultural Economics, said Vietnam should stay focused on products such as herbal medicines and coconut oil for export. Production of organic vegetables and fruit should be increased for domestic sales in competition with imported varieties. Le Thanh said: “We need to improve community awareness…... [read more]
(VOVworld) – Ben Tre province has 5,500 hectares under green-skin grapefruit cultivation for domestic consumption and export. Green-skin grapefruits have increased local incomes and boosted new rural development. Green-skin grapefruits are easy to sell and profitable. Major grapefruit growing areas in Ben Tre are Cho Lach, Chau Thanh, Ben Tre city, Mo Cay Bac, Mo Cay Nam, and Giong Trom. In 2005 Mr. Le Van Phong’s family began to grow grapefruits after failing to find buyers for their longans. The National Target Program on new rural development has provided them and other farming households with planting and tending techniques. Phong’s…... [read more]
