The Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee has adopted a project to transition from crops for which the water supply is not certain to be enough to produce a good return, to crops requiring little water and bringing high economic value, and expand fruit production area.

Farmers in Khanh Vinh mountainous district care for grapefruit trees. (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, in the 2016-2020 period, the province will put aside over VND48 billion to change 2,440 hectares from 2-3 rice crops annually to 1-2 rice crops plus a season for another crop, mainly maize, especially in summer-autumn season when the province often lacks water.

In addition, the province will transfer 1,010 hectares of ineffective crop into other fruits that bring high economic values, including mango, grapefruit and durian. The assistance will be carried out in perse ways, including providing seedlings, upgrading land, putting machines into production, providing fertilizer, and transferring production technique to farmers.

To expand fruit production areas, the province plans to establish durian production areas in the two mountainous districts of Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh, where there are currently over 500 hectares of durian area which can provide VND195 million per hectare per year in profit. Meanwhile, grapefruit production will be expanded in Khanh Vinh district where the existing grapefruit area is nearly 230 hectares, gaining VND260 million per hectare per year in profit. In addition, mango production is bringing hundreds of millions of VND per hectare per year in profit.

Over the past 2 years, prolonged hot weather caused by El Nino has been reported in Khanh Hoa province, leading to water shortages for agricultural production and to a reduction in plantation areas and productivity. In the last summer-autumn season, Khanh Hoa province had to stop production on 10,000 hectares of rice land, while this year, only 42% of rice production areas is being cultivated.

The adopted project is expected to suit changes caused by climate change./.

( Compiled by VNF )