Funding for farmer training to jump 10 fold in 2009

Funding for farmer training will rise by 10 fold in 2009, the Plant Protection Department (PPD), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, announced.

Under the decision, training funds are expected to rise from the US $10,000 in 2008 to US $100,000 in 2009, in an attempt to provide improved training for farmers nationwide.

This is seen as a major move to prevent a shortage of food as well as a way to help farmers protect their crops and improve their income.

According to estimates, the increase will directly benefit some 2,000 farmers in 2009, double that of 2008.

Tea, fruit and vegetable farmers will be the first to receive benefits from the program.

Since 2003, as many as 6,800 farmers in 28 cities and provinces have been trained in new agricultural techniques. In addition, hundreds of farmers have also acquired knowledge on agricultural production through open agricultural training programs broadcast on T.V.

PPD officials said that the increase is aimed at helping small-scale farmers achieve higher productivity and higher incomes, while leading them to more sustainable agricultural development.

Also, a CropLife Asia committee was founded in August under the sponsorship of the European Commercial Commission, which will coordinate with the Vietnamese Government to improve agricultural management abilities for relevant government agencies and to help with training farmers. (DDDN)