Dairy cows are bred in HCM City’s Củ Chi District. — VNA/VNS Photo

Viet Nam News -  HCM CITY — More than 138,000 farmers in HCM City have been awarded the title of “Excellent farmers in production and doing business”, part of a programme that recognises their outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector over the past five years, according to the city’s Farmers Association.

The programme has helped more than 9,700 farming households escape poverty.

During the period, more than 90,000 farmers have also been provided loans worth a total of about VNĐ2.74 trillion (US$125 million) to develop their production and business.

In addition, more than 2,200 training courses have been organised to provide advanced farming techniques for farmers.

Under the programme, farmers have also donated more than 200 ha of land to build infrastructure and upgrade rural roads.

Speaking at a meeting to review the programme for 2012-2016 held last Friday, Liều Vũ Điều, deputy chairman of the Standing Central Committee of the Việt Nam Farmers Association, told the city’s Farmers Association to continue renovating the content, form and organisation of the programme to promote it further.  

The city’s Farmers Association should highlight exemplary individuals and groups of the programme to let other farmers learn from them, he said.

Lê Thanh Liêm, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the city’s Farmers Association should continue co-operating with departments and agencies to develop agriculture and rural areas.

Trần Thu Bích, head of the city’s Department of Science and Technology’s Science and Technology Management Division, said the department would carry out several programmes to transfer advanced technologies for the city’s agriculture sector in the future.

Over the past five years, the department, in co-operation with the city’s Farmers Association, has provided training for nearly 2,000 farmers for trade mark registration, animal waste treatment, safe use of fertilisers and pesticides, advanced techniques in aquaculture and cow breeding.     

Many effective agriculture production models, including breeding ornamental fishes and cows and growing mushrooms in houses, are expanding in the city.

The city has established 83 excellent farmer clubs that help provide farming techniques, support breeding stocks and loans and find markets for farmers.

In the 2016-2020 period, the city’s Farmers Association will continue working with banks and credit organisations to provide soft loans for farmers.

The city’s agriculture production value has increased from VNĐ158.5 million ($7,200) per ha in 2010 to VNĐ375 million ($17,000) per ha last year, according to the city’s Farmers Association. — VNS