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BUSINESS
IN BRIEF 7/8
GDP grows
significantly: HSBC
HSBC forecast that
credit growth will be 10%, lower than the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s goal
for 12-14%. Since early this year, credit has expanded 3.6% from the end of
2013 and about 11% on year.
HSBC explained a
paradox regarding
By July 2014,
exports are holding the economy up, expanding 14.1%. The manufacturing sector
is expanding solidly this year, albeit with some deceleration. Since
December, HSBC manufacturing PMI has been above 50. With sluggish credit
growth, inflation will remain contained. The SBV will keep the open market
operation (OMO) rate steady at 5% for the rest of the year.
The recent uptick
of employment suggests that producers are expecting a rebounding US and
HSBC reported that
the bounce in external demand, especially in quarter four 2014, should boost
the manufacturing sector further, HSBC also forecast continued growth next
year, as new FDI investment begins to commence operations as well as a
rebounding of the global environment.
HSBC predict that
inflation with the exception of seasonal fluctuations resulting from service
price increases and weather events affecting food supply and global oil
prices, too, should hover around the 4.5% to 6.5% range.
Shrimp
producers face more scrutiny for chemical usage
The Prime Minister
has directed concerned ministries and agencies to monitor shrimp production
and trade more strictly.
Under Directive
20/CT-TTg issued late last week, the PM asked the chairpersons of coastal
provinces and cities with large seafood production and trading activities,
such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Kien Giang, to increase the
supervision and inspection of seafood production, processing and trade to
prevent the contamination of the products with banned chemical residues.
Those violating the
rules will be strictly punished in accordance with a Government Decree, under
which the production and business licences can be withdrawn and the cases can
be made public through mass media.
The PM also
entrusted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the ministers
of Public Security, Industry and Trade and Finance to draft and submit
quickly a project to improve control over and prevent the use of banned
chemicals in shrimp production and trade.
Stricter punishment
might be imposed on such illegal activities as the PM has asked the relevant
ministries to study whether the use of banned chemicals in shrimp production
and trade could be added to the list of new crimes in the Penal Code.
The Vietnam
Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has also been
instructed to spread awareness among enterprises and shrimp farmers, and to
ask them to make a commitment on not using banned chemicals in shrimp
production and trade.
Shrimp is the key
export product of the country's seafood industry. The seafood export value in
the first half of this year grew strongly due to a sharp increase in shrimp
and prawn exports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, the country's seafood export revenue rose 24.2% to touch US$3.45
billion, of which 48% to 49% came from shrimp and prawn exports.
VASEP said there
was a strong demand for shrimps and prawns in the
The total export
value of seafood this year is expected to reach US$6.9 billion, which
includes US$3.5 billion from shrimp and prawn exports, similar to that of
2013.
Dong Nai
revokes licences of delayed investment projects
In the first seven
months of this year, the southern
Deputy Director of
the Management Board of Dong Nai’s Industrial Zone Authority Mai Van Nhon
confirmed that all of the projects had been delayed for more than 12 months
and failed to resume despite the authority’s warnings.
“We are considering
revoking the investment licences from another 47 delayed projects ” he said.
Some delayed
projects lack even the adequate financing to build offices, which has made it
difficult for the authority to contact their representatives.
One example is the
Dinh Quan Industrial Zone-based Kyung Rim Vina Ltd. Although it signed an
initial contract with an infrastructure firm, the company returned its land
and stopped its operations as of May 2014, but hasn’t yet closed its tax
code.
According to the
Management Board of Dong Nai’s Industrial Zones, many FDI firms failed to pay
tax and social insurance. For example, Nhon Trach 1-based C&H Vietnam Ltd
shut down, but still had a tax code and owing US$38,000 in social insurance.
In 2013, Dong Nai
revoked investment licences from 17 of 30 non-operating FDI firms. Dong Nai’s
investment policy is to fully support productive projects that make
contributions to the provincial budget and create jobs for local people, Nhon
underscored.
Bac Lieu
takes in 21 investment projects in seven months
The southern
The figure raised
the number of licensed investment projects in the locality so far to 40,
including 15 foreign-invested ones, with a combined registered investment
capital of US$873 million.
Between now and
this year’s end, seven licensed projects are expected to get off the ground.
Besides offering
incentives as a draw to investors, Bac Lieu has upgraded its transport
network, particularly, Cao Van Lau, Gia Rai – Ganh Hao and Xom Lung – Cai
Cung roads.
It has also ramped
up electrical and irrigational infrastructure in aquaculture areas, built
fishing ports, shelter areas, shrimp and fish breeding facilities as well.
On the strength of
rice supply and aquaculture, Bac Lieu also boasts estuaries of Ganh Hao, Cai
Cung, Nha Mai and a vast fishing grounds sprawling over 40,000 square
kilometres, which enable it to develop a sea-based economy for its growth.
For past years, the
province has launched a range of eco-friendly tourist services and built
economic and cultural establishments.
Bac Lieu is calling
for investment in fishing logistics services, expansion of Ganh Hao fishing
port and a seafood processing plant.
AEON
expands its presence into Binh Duong
Japanese owned
Aeonmall Vietnam Co, Ltd has received the green light from Binh Duong
province to proceed with its expansion plans and the grand opening of its
Aeon Binh Duong Canary Mall in November 2014.
Speaking of its
expansion plans, Yukio Konishi, General Director said the company has done
business in
Mr Konishi said
that the Aeon Binh Duong Canary Mallwill provide standard products and
services, generate thousands of jobs, and introduce more domestic goods to
Aeon shopping centres and supermarkets.
The Aeon Binh Duong
mall has been constructed in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in
Thuan An commune with investment capital of US$95 million on an area spanning
75,000 square metres. After four years of operations in Vietnam, Aeonmall
Vietnam Co, Ltd and AEON Co, Ltd have received investment licenses to
construct shopping malls capitalised at US$512 million, most notably was the
opening of the AEON-Tan Phu Celadon mall in January 2014.
National
committee: aggregate demand improved but still low
In its recent
report on the economic situation in the first seven months of this year and
in July alone, the committee said that core inflation in July was estimated
at 3.6%, much lower than the overall inflation rate of 4.9% and also lower
than the core inflation rate of 4.2% from the same period last year.
The committee also
identified that aggregate demand was slowly improving for both consumption
and investment.
Specifically, for
consumption, even though the total retail sales and consumption services
revenue was higher than the same period in 2013 but saw not much improvement.
Meanwhile, the volume of cargo during the January-July period increase by
4.8%, much lower versus the same period last year (13.7%).
For investment,
according to the NFSC’s estimate, during the first half of 2014 private
investment was only equivalent to 10.3% of GDP, lower than the figure of
11.1% for the same period in the 2013. Foreign direct investment in the first
seven months rose by 2.3% year on year, lower than the 6.4% rise last year.
To achieve the
economic growth target of 5.8% for 2014, in a context of well-controlled
inflation, the committee recommended improving management and offering
support policies to aggregate demand.
Nationwide
contest launched to find useful inventions
The Ministry of
Science of Technology (MOST) has launched a contest in search of new
inventions that can be widely applied for practical needs in daily life as
well as inventions which will spur socio-economic development.
The contest is
being organised in partnership with the World Intellectual Property
Organisation, science agencies of
All Vietnamese
citizens who have developed technical inventions after December 31, 2008 and
did not take part in the 2013 contest are eligible for the 2014 invention
contest. Submissions will be received up until September 30, 2014.
MOST Deputy
Minister Tran Van Tung said in a press briefing on August 4 that the contest
is an opportunity for inventors to promote their technical creations and to
establish a business with potential investors.
Last year, the
contest organisers received 146 applications in a wide range of areas,
including mechanics, automation, material science, environmental technology
and biological technology, many of which have been successfully
commercialised both at home and abroad.
An award ceremony
for finalists of the contest is scheduled for November this year.
Huge
capital needed for social housing development in Hanoi
The department
attributed the slow progress of six projects for students to the lack of
capital. For example,
Meanwhile, some
projects for workers have gone into operation while others are facing
financial distress. An apartment building in
As for projects
intended for low-income people, most contractors have pledged to complete
construction on time but a few of them have lagged, the construction
department was quoted by the news agency as saying at the meeting. A project
of Hanoi Construction Joint Stock Company No.3 is a case in point; it is more
than two years behind schedule and is still seeking approval.
Vice chairman
Nguyen Ngoc Tuan of Hanoi People’s Committee told relevant departments to
speed up capital allocations for those projects.
As for the projects
behind schedule, he asked investors to complete their projects on time to
meet housing demand of those in need.
Coffee
exports show big potential
With its huge
export potential,
The latest report
from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has revealed that the
country had exported 1.12 million tonnes of coffee over the past seven months
and generated a turnover of US$2.31 billion.
The exports
represented a year-on-year increase of 26.9 per cent in volume and 21.9 per
cent in value, the report said, adding that
Coffee was now one
of the nation's most important agricultural products and the local coffee
sector mainly focused on export with quantity of 95 per cent of its output,
according to the National Export Potential Assessment Report, which was
released by the Trade Promotion Agency late last week.
Despite enjoying
such advantages as a favourable climate, low production costs and a bumper
coffee crop, the quality of Vietnamese coffee products remained low due to
outdated harvesting technology and poor processing facilities.
Lack of brand recognition
and the limited marketing skills of exporters were some of the other
problems, resulting in lower export prices of Vietnamese coffee as compared
with the world's average.
Nevertheless,
thanks to a firm foothold in the global market,
In order to utilise
this potential effectively, the coffee sector needed to improve its
production chain and distribution networks, from producing, processing to
marketing processes, in order to increase its export value, experts
suggested.
Nguyen Thi Thu
Hang, senior technical consultant at the Export Potential Assessment (EPA),
emphasised on the importance of improving product quality with a focus on
investing in research, post-harvests, preservation and processing technology.
Besides applying
sustainable standards for coffee production, it was also necessary for the
sector to provide hi-quality products for niche markets in spite of low
consumption, she said.
Ngo Quang My,
another consultant at EPA, called on the State's support policies in
producing, processing and enhancing the quality as well as innovating
technology and marketing Vietnamese coffee products.
He also suggested
that firms involved in the sector should forge closer links and accelerate
their co-operation.
EPA is first major
activity of the four-year "Decentralised Trade Support Services for
Strengthening the International Competitiveness of Vietnamese Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises" programme, being implemented nationally by the
Trade Promotion Agency.
MARD floats
plan to boost tuna value
The Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) recently held a workshop on how to
develop a tuna value chain in the central coastal
According to the
ministry, this would increase the value of products and improve living
standards of fishermen.
Tuna was sold to
factories with cold storage facilities at VND73,000 (US$3.42) per kilogramme
in the Phu Yen province while tuna processed as Sashimi had been exported to
Japan at VND195,000 ($9.15) per kilogramme, conference participants said.
Often, fishermen do
not pay attention to investing in processing technology because they can
easily sell their tuna by total weight to local buyers without strict
regulations related to quality control, health and sanitary guarantees as
required in the overseas markets.
Creating a whole
chain of fish production is a matter of concern in
"The value
chain can't be cut off. It must be managed by MARD and provincial people's committees
so that it can operate smoothly," said Vu Dinh Dap, Chairman of Viet Nam
Tuna Association.
The country now has
more than 3,500 tuna fishing ships with 35,000 labourers.
According to
Minister of MARD Cao Duc Phat, in order to benefit from the value chain,
Minister Phat said
that providing fishermen with better equipment and technology would help them
improve their living standards.
To produce tuna in
the value chain, the development of a modern fishing fleet, combined with a
marketing strategy and the construction of logistic fisheries services should
be implemented together, added Phat.
Petrolimex
announces prices for bio-fuel blends in Quang Ngai
Bio-fuel E5 RON 92
is priced between VND25,310 (US$1.2) and VND25,810 ($1.22) per litre in the
central Quang Ngai Province as of last Friday, according to the Viet Nam
National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex).
E5 RON 92, which is
made of unleaded gasoline and 4 to 5 per cent ethanol, will replace the
traditional fuel Mogas 92.
All petrol stations
in Petrolimex Quang Ngai's distribution network will price E5 RON 92 at
VND25,310. Meanwhile, areas which are located far away from the province's
central area will charge the maximum rate of VND25,810 for E5 RON 92.
Quang Ngai was the
first province in
According to the
BRS's Deputy Director Tran Ngoc Nguyen, the company's Dung Quat Oil Refinery
will ensure the supply of E5 RON 92 for the central region of
Nguyen said the
refinery's oil tanks are capable of holding 200,000 cubic metres of oil per year,
half of which is E5 RON 92.
According to a
decision issued by the provincial People's Committee on June 16, 2014, 81 per
cent of the petrol stations in the province will sell E5 RON 92 from last
Friday.
Kien Giang
sets to harvest 52,000 tonnes of shrimp this year
The Mekong Delta
The figure,
equivalent to 60 percent of the yearly plan, represented an increase of 15
percent year-on-year.
Director of the
provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Mai Anh Nhin said
the yearly goal is within reach as there is still room to expand the shrimp
farming area while the weather is expected to be favourable in the latter
half of the year.
According to the
department’s statistics, the locality has 89,314 hectares of shrimp farming,
314 ha higher than its annual target, and the area is expected to further
expand.
The provincial
authorities plan to accelerate the construction of infrastructure projects to
serve the development of concentrated farming zones, while intensifying the
management of water environment in shrimp farms.
The province will
also create favourable conditions for businesses to access capital sources.
Kien Giang emerged
as an economic spotlight on the Mekong Delta region in 2013, with economic
growth rate hitting 9.4 percent, ranking fourth among the 13 provinces and
city in the delta.
Shrimp farming was
the main driving force behind the development of the province’s
socio–economy.
The province has
set a target of earning 175 million USD from exporting aquatic products in
2014, up 17 million USD against the value of a year earlier.-
Ca Mau:
unfavourable weather causes serious economic loss
Heavy rain,
whirlwind and flood tides in the southern
According to the
provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in July alone
12km of sea dikes were seriously damaged by rains, while nearly 1,000 ha of
shrimp farming area were inundated, with total losses estimated at more than
8 billion VND. In addition, 20,000 km of river embankments were eroded,
forcing dozens of houses to be relocated to safer areas.
According to the
Central Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre, this year sees
higher-than-average rainfalls and floodtides due to climate change.
To minimise losses,
the provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control
has intensified communication works to update local people on the development
of weather, thus helping them quickly respond to any weather situations.
The committee also
pays heed to consolidating dyke system to protect agricultural land areas
against flood, while drafting plans to evacuate households residing in
coastal areas and zones vulnerable to flood and landslide.
A mega support
industry event with three exhibitions is slated to be held in
Two exhibitions,
Metalex
The number of
registered exhibitors is expected to increase by 20 percent over last year's
shows, with many national pavilions including
The other
exhibition "Business Alliance for Supporting Industry 2014",
organised by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in HCM City and
the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, will enable Vietnamese
parts producers to meet with Japanese producers to seek business
opportunities.
To take place at
the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from October 9-11, visitors will
also be able to gain new knowledge and networking opportunities through
seminars and other activities during the three shows.
The ASEAN Economic
Community, which is set to come into existence next year, brings both
opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese producers, said Duangdej
Yuaikwarmdee, Deputy Managing Director of Reed Tradex.
To remain
competitive, local companies must invest in modern technologies, he said.-
Can Tho
aims for 1.45 million tonnes of rice in 2014
Authorities of the
Mekong Delta city of
To reach the goal,
they are striving for an output of 317,000 tonnes in the upcoming
spring-winter crop.
According to the
municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the locality has
planted over 61,800 ha in the crop, up 11,000 ha compared to the same period
last year. The acreage mainly concentrates in the districts of Vinh Thanh, Co
Do, and Thoi Lai with a total area of 40,000 ha, accounting for 65 percent of
the rice area of the locality.
Pham Van Quynh,
director of the department said in these districts, 132 field embankments
were reinforced and 56 km of internal ditches were dredged to prevent
flooding that could adversely affect rice production.
Water drainage
systems in several districts were also reinforced for the purpose, he added.
In addition, the
municipal Department of Plant Protection has supplied bio-pesticides to local
farmers and directed them to use to protect the environment and their paddies
as well.
Can Tho considers
rice production a key foreign currency earner ensuring a steady income for
its farmers.
The city has set to
sell 1 million tonnes of rice abroad in 2014, up nearly 100,000 tonnes from
last year, for earnings of over 516 million USD.
In 2013, it raked
in nearly 500 million USD from rice export, accounting for 30 percent of the
city’s total export value of 1.5 billion USD.
Ministry
seeks ways to secure new rice export contracts
The Ministry of
Industry and Trade has urged Vietnamese rice exporters to promptly manage the
volume of rice exports and stockpile, thus accelerating the signing of new
contracts by the year-end.
The request was
made in the context that the amount of rice exports through sub-border gates
in
Given this
situation, the ministry has partnered with customs office and related
agencies to inspect the cross-border export of rice.
The ministry has
also coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the
Vietnam Food Association and food companies to review the rice supply as well
as signed rice export contracts. Then it will propose rice export scheme in
the time to come.
In the first seven
months of this year,
In June and July,
rice exports dropped about 30 million USD each month compared with that in
previous months.
To date this year,
domestic rice exporters have signed contracts to sell 5.3 million tonnes of
rice.
For the rest of the
five months this year, domestic rice businesses will have to win contracts to
export more than 1 million tonnes of rice to meet the 2014 export target of
between 6.2 and 6.5 million tonnes of rice.
Modernising
agriculture: opportunities and solutions
According to
incomplete statistics, the country currently has 29 high-tech agricultural
zones in 12 provinces and cities. These agricultural zones have formed
development models such as safe vegetable production and flower and
ornamental plant growing in
In addition to
development models, agricultural zones have also established specialised
production areas, dairy processing facilities in
In particular,
agricultural zones have actively applied new technology such as greenhouse,
net house, nursery and cooling warehouse, contributing to improving
productivity and stabilizing prices.
Director of
Agricultural and Rural Department under the Central Economics Commission
Nguyen Van Tien said that research results and high-tech applications had
made important contributions to productivity growth in recent years. However,
operations of high-tech agricultural zones have remained limited due to the
lack of support mechanisms.
“The selection of
models, products and technology has remained unsuitable and costs have
remained high, leading to low efficiency. In addition, some high-tech
agricultural zones in Hai Phong city and
Businesses should
consider not only investing in the application of advanced technology into
practical production but also promoting strengths in terms of land resources
and natural conditions.
Deputy General
Director of Agrivina Co., Ltd. Nguyen Van Bao said that although
Developing
high-tech agriculture in the future should focus on core objectives such as
seed selection and the number of businesses and services participating in
high-tech agriculture.
Deputy Head of
Science, Technology and Environment Department under the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Tan Hinh said that the country would
strongly develop high-tech agriculture with a focus on the number of
businesses and production areas, contributing to increasing high-tech agricultural
production value to 10-15 percent of total agricultural production value.
Businesses from
Professor Umehara
Katsuhiko from the East Asia research centre said he was surprised at the
local rapid growth, with a joint venture between the Becamex-Binh Duong
company and
He said he will
introduce
Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee Le Thanh Cung said local authorities have taken
heed to foreign businesses, including those from
Binh Duong is home
to over 2,300 foreign investment projects totalling 19.8 billion USD run by
nearly 40 nations and territories. Japan takes the lead with 4.7 billion USD
invested in more than 220 projects
The province has
also received official development assistance from
Boosting
renewable energy development
Energy is
indispensable to economic development and national industrialization and
modernization. But
The Ministry of
Industry and Trade’s (MoIT) Energy Institute, warns the total energy needed
for trading activities will reach 78.8–83.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent
(TOE) by 2020 and 152–175 million TOE by 2030. The 2020 demand is around
2.2–2.4 times higher than current levels.
The coal industry’s
plans suggest a production output of less than 72 billion kWh per annum, even
between 2025–2030.
Offshore gas
sources could fuel electricity production exceeding 100 billion kWh per year
as well as 3–5 percent of the gas volume required for other industrial
sectors. Crude oil output is estimated at an annual 17–18 million tonnes but
is expected to ebb after 2015.
Coal shortages are
expected in a magnitude of 5.8 million by 2015, 25 million by 2016, and 66
million by 2020. This will necessitate compensatory coal imports from 2015
onwards.
Electricity demand
could surge by as much as an annual 15–20 percent.
If
Dependence on
imported energy will become a major issue over the next 10–15 years.
Experts warn
Energy consumption
is growing at the double the rate of
Obsolete
technology, outdated equipment, aging infrastructure, and poor management all
contribute to
Energy shortages
already force
Most other
countries get their electricity from coal, oil, and gas, with less than 20
percent created using hydropower. Half of
The national energy
strategy should focus on adjusting energy policies and consumer behaviours,
upgrading technology, encouraging business investment, improving pricing and
tax information, and ensuring energy is still accessible for the
disadvantaged.
The Vietnam Energy
Association has asked the Government to finalize its 2011–2020 plans for the
energy sector and include a vision towards 2030 so that the industry can be
guided by set targets.
A decree
encouraging and promoting the development of renewable energy is of the
utmost importance. A Renewable Energy Law should be prepared for submission
to the National Assembly.
The energy sector
needs to expand its exploration of domestic and foreign energy sources and
research renewable energy strategies to limit pollution and protect the
environment.
Other priorities
include keeping energy prices at reasonable levels and increasing competition
within the energy market itself.
A shortage of
capital is threatening the completion of social housing projects for students
in tertiary education, workers in industrial zones and low-income earners in
At a recent
conference, the department said 34 social housing projects have been left
unfinished and were lagging behind schedule due to capital shortages.
Currently, six
projects overseeing the construction of dormitories for students have been
put on hold due to a lack of funds. Meanwhile, housing projects at the Hanoi
National University of Education, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of
Politics and Public Administration, the
Two dormitory
complexes in My Dinh and Phap Van-Tu Hiep also faced a shortage of 78 billion
VND (3.6 million USD) and 700 billion VND (33 million USD), respectively.
These projects were
expected to provide accommodation for more than 39,860 students.
In relation to
housing projects for workers, two in the Dong Anh and Chuong My districts
have only been partially completed and put into use, reportedly lacking the
funds needed to complete the rest of the projects.
Three others in
Thach That Industrial Zone, Kim Chung New Residential Area and Nam Phu Xuyen
Industrial Zone are facing the same problems.
The projects were
initially expected to provide houses for 25,300 workers.
However, the
department said that most investors have committed to completing 23 housing
projects for low-income earners on time, but admitted some were encountering
problems with site clearance and legal procedures. The projects are expected
to provide 21,410 apartments for low-income earners in the area.
Vice Chairman of
the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuan has invited government
departments to propose measures to allocate capital for on-going projects.
He has also asked
the construction department to work with the management board of the
industrial zones to provide accurate information on the housing demand of
workers.
Tuan also called on
investors to focus on completing the projects soon after receiving financial
support.
With the Mekong
delta
In recent years the
disease, which causes an abnormal brush-like cluster of drafted, weak shoots
arising from or near the same point on branches and affects fruiting, has
infected large areas of longan in the delta.
Vinh Long was among
the worst hit during the peak outbreaks between September 2011 and March
2012, with 9,000ha out of its 9,840ha of longan affected, according to the
province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Nguyen Thi Anh, who
has grown rambutan on 3,000sq.m in her 8,000sq.m orchard in Long Ho
district's Hoa Ninh commune, said that three years ago the disease hit her
longan trees and she had to cut them down and replace with rambutan.
This year the
rambutan began to fruit but has been affected by the disease, she said.
All 60 rambutan
trees in the 2,000sq.m orchard owned by Tran Anh Tuan in Hoa Ninh commune
were severely affected by the disease during the flowering period this year.
The trees, which
yielded fruits for the last two years, are unlikely to do so this year
because the disease causes young rambutan fruits to fall.
"Would we have
to cut down the infected rambutan trees like we did with infected longan
trees since there is no effective treatment for the disease?" he asked.
More than 126ha out
of the commune's 550ha of rambutan are diseased, Doan Ngoc Niem, an
agricultural official in Hoa Ninh Commune, said.
Witches' broom is
caused by a bacteria whose vector is nhen long nhung (Eriophyes dimocarpi), a
tiny pest species that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Authorities have
warned farmers to apply measures to stop the disease from affecting rambutan,
including cutting infected branches and using chemicals to kill nhen long
nhung.
Nguyen Van Liem,
deputy director of the Vinh Long province Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development, said his department had instructed the Plant Protection
Sub-department to take measures to treat and prevent the spread of the
disease.
In the province, a
large area of longan crop remained affected by the disease, which has the
potential to spread to more rambutan trees, he said.
Therefore,
preventive measures should be taken to control the disease in both cases, he
said.
Seminar
discusses cocoa industry in
A series of
measures to develop the cocoa industry in the Mekong Delta region were
proposed at a recent seminar held in Ben Tre province.
Phan Thi Thu Suong,
deputy director of the Ben Tre Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development, said the area under cacao trees in the province plummeted from
more than 10,000ha in 2012 to 5,100ha now.
Volatile prices and
low productivity due to poor farming practices and limited use of technology
were to blame for farmers chopping down cacao trees for other crops, she
said.
Le Thi Phi Van, a
cocoa researcher, said around 30 percent of the cacao-growing area in Ben Tre
was not nurtured while another 40 percent suffered due to improper farming
techniques.
The failure to
balance various fertilisers had affected yields, she said.
Despite being an
auxiliary plant, cacao trees needed proper caring in the form of irrigation
and fertilisers, she said.
Nguyen Vinh Thanh,
cocoa sourcing manager for Cargill
Demand, especially
from
Nguyen Van Hoa,
deputy director of the Crop Production Department, said Ben Tre has suitable
conditions for growing cacao and intercropping it with coconut would result
in higher profits for farmers.
Since cacao was
still a relatively new crop in
More agricultural
extension programmes to teach farmers the skills and techniques needed for
growing, harvesting, and processing cocoa were required, delegates at the
seminar agreed, as were close links between various stake holders.
Each area should
draw up its own plans for cacao farming, they said.
Scientists and
agricultural research institutes should focus on creating new high-quality
strains and measures to prevent and control pests and diseases, they said.
Huynh Quang Duc,
deputy director of the Ben Tre Agriculture Extension Centre, said large cocoa
buying and processing firms should offer reasonable prices to encourage
farmers to grow cacao.
Hoa said
information about farming techniques, markets, and Government policies needed
to be transmitted promptly and precisely to the cacao community to enable
them to understand and feel secure about growing the crop.
Cocoa bean prices
in the domestic market have increased from 45,000 VND (2.1 USD) per
kilogramme late last year to 55,000-59,000 VND (2.5-2.7 USD) now.
Ngo Van Bu, a
farmer in Chau Binh commune in Ben Tre's Giong Trom district, said
intercropping with his one hectare of coconut has improved his income
substantially.
"Earnings from
cocoa match that from coconut, and I did not need to hire people to harvest
cocoa as I do with coconut," he told Vietnam News.
But without much
experience in growing cacao, farmers remain wary.
According to Hoa,
the quality of cocoa grown in the province is rated among the best in
The seminar was
held as part of the
The project is
aimed at improving the lives of cacao farmers and their families and ensuring
the long-term sustainability of cacao farming.
Binh Duong:
Japanese-invested
AEONMALL Binh Duong Co., Ltd. on August 4 was licensed to hire a large space
at the AEON Binh Duong-Canary in the southern
Located at the
With a total
investment of 95 million USD, the shopping centre offers 45,000 square metres
out of its 75,000 square metres for business activities.
Yukio Konishi, General
Director of
He added that the
centre will provide quality products and services as well as create jobs for
thousands of locals.
After four years of
operation, AEON MALL and AEON have carried out projects worth 512 million USD
in
Binh Duong,
together with nearby Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh
Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, and Tien Giang provinces, forms the southern key
economic region.
In the first half
of 2014, the province received 1 billion USD in foreign direct investment,
400 million USD of which was poured into 83 new projects and the rest was
added to 69 existing ones.
Source: VEF/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/VIR
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Thứ Năm, 7 tháng 8, 2014
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