ADB to Support Vietnam Can Tho in Hi-tech Agriculture: Country Director

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help farmers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Can Tho improve agricultural infrastructure and develop high-tech agriculture, said ADB Country Director for Vietnam Eric Sidgwick. Mr. Sidgwick made the remark at a meeting with the municipal leaders on January 16, which focused on ADB’s support for Can Tho’s agro restructuring scheme in 2019-2023. The ADB executive suggested Can Tho join its capacity development technical assistant (CDTA) project and the technical assistance for high-tech agricultural project, including programs such as building rice and fruit production areas and husbandry areas applying advanced technology, and developing an international-standard farm produce sales channel. Besides technical training to help farmers cultivate safe agro products that fit food safety and hygiene standards of the EU and the U.S., the ADB will also support the city improve human resources in the agro-forestry-fisheries sector and attract more investment in the field. The projects, using the ordinary capital resources (OCR) and Asian Development Fund (ADF), also look to study markets, seek stable distribution channels for local farm produce, and build a sustainable agricultural value chain, he added. According to the scheme, Can Tho targets to cultivate 100,000 hectares of plant seedling linked with markets, including 20,000 with high-tech agriculture, and 25,000 hectares shifted from rice areas. (VietnamPlusEnglish, VOV Jan 17)