VietNamNet Bridge – Dinh Thanh Agricultural Research Centre, the most modern of its kind in the Mekong Delta, officially opened on Dec 12, in southern An Giang Province.

The centre, built with investment capital of more than VND80 billion (US$3.8 million), aims to enhance the value of agricultural products and improve the living standards of local rice farmers.

It will be the first centre in the country to train specialists in rice cultivation, with over 100 hectares devoted to agricultural research. Duong Van Chin, director of the centre, said that the centre includes facilities for six fields of research, from genetics to plant protection and agricultural mechanics.

Researchers at the centre will work with other institutes and universities to create new varieties of high-quality rice for export.

Huynh Van Thon, director of An Giang Plant Protection Joint Stock Company, said the centre would also help rice farmers by providing them with knowhow.

Rice yields in the Mekong Delta are estimated to hit 24.6 million tonnes this year, an increase of 1.1 million tonnes thanks to the expansion of rice cultivation areas and three consecutive bumper crops.

In 2012, the Mekong Delta turned 4.1 million hectares of land into rice cultivating areas.

The region has also expanded the area where high-quality rice varieties are grown for export, consolidated irrigation networks and harvested rice early to avoid floods.

Source: VNS