Attracting investment in high-tech agriculture

Identifying agriculture as one of the three economic pillars of the province, Binh Thuan has been focusing on creating the most favorable conditions for businesses in the process of investing in high-tech agricultural areas.

The problem of attracting investment in high-tech agricultural development

Overcoming many difficulties, in recent times, the provincial agricultural sector has made great efforts in restructuring the crop sector towards ensuring quality, safety and increasing added value, investing in intensive farming, improving productivity and quality of advantageous crops. The results can be seen from the change in green from the previously sunny, windy, arid land, which has now formed many farms and orchards of high economic value and quality such as melons, grapes, etc. applied in high-tech, organic production.

*High-tech fruit tree growing in Bac Binh.*

For example, in districts such as Bac Binh and Tuy Phong, a number of enterprises and cooperatives have been attracting investment in high-tech, organic grape, melon, dragon fruit and vegetable farms such as Tan Dong Production and Trade Company Limited, mainly growing vegetables with an area of 11 hectares/6 greenhouses; Branch of Tien Phong Binh Thuan Steel Construction Agricultural Investment Joint Stock Company growing melons and vegetables with 20 hectares/80 greenhouses; Soleil Farm Company Limited growing melons and vegetables with 6 hectares/26 greenhouses. In addition, there are also individuals investing with 17 hectares/162 greenhouses/30 households (growing melons). Or Binh An farm (Thuan Quy, Ham Thuan Nam) with an area of about 100 hectares, currently growing 3 main crops: dragon fruit, grapes and melons in an organic direction, ensuring food hygiene and safety. Notably, recently, this farm has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists with its high-tech, clean agricultural production model combined with agricultural tourism... This is also the model that a number of farms and businesses are focusing on.

However, the provincial agricultural sector also recognized some emerging difficulties that need to be resolved, such as the linkage of production, processing, and consumption of products according to the value chain in agriculture and the lack of investment attraction for high-tech agricultural development. Along with that, the competitiveness of some agricultural products in the market is not high. Investment in infrastructure for agricultural and rural development has not met the requirements.

*Growing dragon fruit with high technology in Ham Thuan Nam.*

These limitations, it is necessary to mention the high-tech agricultural zone (HTZ) of Binh Thuan with an area of over 2,000 hectares, invested in construction in communes and towns including Luong Son, Song Luy, Binh Tan and Hoa Thang in Bac Binh district (the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2059/QD-UBND dated August 10, 2018, approving the project to establish the HZZ). This is a large-scale project, applying high technology, when formed, it will have an important meaning in contributing to the restructuring of the province's agricultural sector, creating a spillover effect to the people, other components and developing regions in the province. It can be seen that the Binh Thuan high-tech agricultural area has a favorable location near National Highway 1A, Phan Thiet airport, Vinh Tan port, but currently the infrastructure system has not been invested synchronously... Most importantly, there is still difficulty in capital sources, especially investment in agriculture often requires large capital, so it is also an obstacle for businesses.

*High-tech grape growing in Ham Thuan Nam.*

Find the “open” direction

According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Binh Thuan province currently has 253 agricultural projects, including 14 high-tech agricultural projects. Although the province has not issued a separate policy to attract enterprises to invest in the high-tech agricultural zone in Bac Binh district, in order to invite enterprises with great potential to invest in the high-tech agricultural zone, the province creates the most favorable conditions for enterprises in the investment process to enjoy policies according to regulations. With the goal of creating momentum and breakthroughs for the agricultural sector in the coming time, the provincial agricultural sector said that it will continue to research and perfect mechanisms and policies to support enterprises and farming households in high-tech agricultural production. At the same time, it will give incentives to investors with the capacity to invest in high-tech agricultural production with suitable crops and livestock for replication and linkage with production and consumption enterprises. Along with that, it will strengthen promotion and call for investment in the area through investment promotion conferences and seminars...

In addition, to focus on policies to attract investment in high-tech agriculture, Binh Thuan will encourage investment in the agricultural sector according to the list of projects calling for investment, prioritizing high-tech projects, technology transfer, application of scientific and technical advances in production and processing. Continue to build and perfect the investment promotion program according to the focus, key points, not scattered and fragmented. At the same time, effectively implement, strengthen propaganda, information to businesses and investors on policies to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture, rural areas, production linkage, value chains and preferential policies, support on tax, credit, land ... to exploit the maximum potential and advantages of Binh Thuan province's agriculture, especially strong products such as dragon fruit, shrimp seeds, seafood processing, rice, some valuable fruit trees, high quality and reputation in the market. In addition, the province focuses on promoting on-site investment by continuing to improve the investment environment, reform administrative procedures, and strengthen dialogue with investors and businesses to promptly support and resolve difficulties and problems.

From the initial results, along with the opening of investment attraction policies in the coming time, it is expected that the province's economy in general and high-tech agriculture in particular will continue to flourish.

According to the list of projects expected to prioritize mobilizing non-state budget investment capital in the province in the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 of the Provincial People's Committee, there will be 15 projects in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery. For example, the project to invest in infrastructure of the High-tech Agricultural Zone; the project to invest in infrastructure of the Song Binh High-Tech Livestock Development Complex; the project to invest in infrastructure of the High-Tech Aquatic Seed Production Zone (Tuy Phong); the project to develop a dragon fruit development zone in the direction of applying high technology according to GlobalGAP, VietGAP processes; the project to invest in developing a high-quality rice area for export (Duc Linh); the project to develop concentrated beef cattle farming; the project to grow medicinal plants, functional foods, etc.

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