Removing 'bottlenecks', opening up development directions for Dien Bien

Minister Tran Duc Thang removed mechanisms, opened directions for green and smart agricultural development and effectively exploited national target programs for Dien Bien.

On the afternoon of December 5, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang chaired a working session with the Standing Committee of Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee to resolve difficulties in state management of agriculture, environment and minerals. Also attending were Secretary of Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee Tran Tien Dung and leaders of units under the Ministry and the province.

According to the report, Dien Bien is currently in the group of provinces with low development levels, GRDP in 2024 (current price) reached 31,663.39 billion VND, accounting for only 0.27% of the country's GDP. The agriculture, forestry and fishery sector reached 4,829.39 billion VND, equivalent to 0.35% of the GDP of this sector nationwide. If compared at comparable prices, Dien Bien's GRDP in 2024 is only 1/1.77 compared to Son La province (8,459 billion VND).

Faced with this situation, the locality hopes that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will provide stronger support to exploit potentials, overcome shortcomings, thereby promoting agricultural development in a green - smart - sustainable direction.

Minister Tran Duc Thang removes mechanisms, opens up directions for green and smart agricultural development and effectively exploits national target programs for Dien Bien. Photo: Quang Huy.

Removing mechanisms, connecting businesses, promoting resources

At the meeting, the province requested the Ministry to support many key groups of contents such as removing "bottlenecks" in mechanisms and policies: agricultural insurance; production - consumption linkage policy; conversion of forest use purposes, conversion of rice-specialized land; receiving money for reforestation; adjusting the unit price for forest environmental service payments; support level for forest regeneration; exemption and reduction of land use fees and land rent; giving opinions on industry development orientation for the period 2026 - 2030 and the following years.

In addition, connect businesses to invest in deep processing of key products such as macadamia, coffee, and fruits; businesses to build concentrated planting and breeding areas; coordinate to organize an investment promotion conference in agriculture in January 2026.

At the same time, build a green - smart agricultural foundation, access the carbon credit market; adjust land use targets for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050 in line with reality; promote mineral potential, coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to support funding to complete cadastral mapping and build a land database.

In addition, prioritize investment in irrigation infrastructure, planting infrastructure, and natural disaster response; continue to implement projects to investigate underground water sources for mountainous areas with water scarcity.

Proposal to issue separate decrees for border and disadvantaged areas

Speaking at the working session, Secretary of Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee Tran Tien Dung emphasized that this is a rare occasion for the province to work directly and comprehensively with all units of the Ministry.

Dien Bien Provincial Party Secretary Tran Tien Dung speaks at the meeting. Photo: Quang Huy.

He said Dien Bien is orienting its development in a green and smart direction, but there are still many difficulties in restructuring agriculture.

“Dien Bien is an agricultural province, but many products are not self-sufficient; some stages still depend on varieties and techniques from other places,” he said.

According to the Secretary, to effectively restructure, the province aims to closely link enterprises - cooperatives - farmers, thereby forming a sustainable production - processing - consumption chain.

In addition, the province is planning planting areas, livestock areas, urban areas, perennial crops and requests the Ministry to support the review and ensure consistency. Provincial leaders also hope that the Ministry will support the organization of a large-scale conference on livestock - agriculture and forestry, associated with Dien Bien's conditions.

One of the province's key recommendations is to develop a separate decree to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas in border areas, disadvantaged areas, and ethnic minority areas.

Mr. Tran Tien Dung said that the current decree is problematic because it depends on the medium-term public investment plan; businesses cannot always make timely proposals. Mr. Dung cited China as an example, where there is a policy to regulate businesses in border and mountainous areas to produce locally, thereby retaining people and reducing migration. This is an experience worth considering.

Regarding people's lives, many localities in the province are lacking water for daily life and production. The province hopes that the Ministry will continue to support programs related to clean water and production water.

Regarding land, compared to Lai Chau (affected about 72,000 hectares), Dien Bien only has about 900 hectares that can be converted, and the province wants to make the most of this land fund, especially the area with reservoirs, suitable for cultivation, livestock and aquaculture.

The Secretary of Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee said that the locality has identified two key development directions: developing historical tourism and community tourism associated with national identity and agriculture.

In addition, the province hopes the Ministry will prioritize capital allocation for urgent projects, to be implemented soon this year and next year, to create livelihoods for people in border areas.

What is under the authority of the Ministry will be done decisively.

In his concluding remarks, Minister Tran Duc Thang highly appreciated Dien Bien's proactive spirit, fully acknowledged the recommendations and said that the contents under the Ministry's authority will be vigorously implemented.

Minister Tran Duc Thang speaks at the meeting. Photo: Quang Huy.

He requested that units under the Ministry urgently coordinate with the province to handle the contents that have been requested in writing; any contents that need to be submitted to the Government, the Prime Minister, or waiting for legal documents must be implemented according to the procedure.

The Minister requested the Market Development Department and related units to step up investment promotion: “To develop, businesses must come in. Businesses bring in varieties, techniques, and purchase products; only then will a value chain be formed.”

Regarding mineral exploitation, the Minister requested that the Ministry's units provide complete documents for the province to carry out the work under its authority; at the same time, speed up the progress of putting mines under the Ministry's authority into exploitation, moving towards deep processing.

Regarding the content of the six reservoirs proposed by the province, there are currently four reservoirs eligible for investment. The Minister proposed to allocate capital for the period 2026 - 2030. The remaining two reservoirs were assigned to functional departments to continue studying the urgency and effectiveness.

Great opportunities from the national target program

The Minister said that the National Assembly has unanimously approved the National Target Program on new rural areas, poverty reduction and ethnic minority development, which is especially important for Dien Bien. From April 1, 2026, the program will implement groups of issues such as solving domestic water; investing in infrastructure; developing culture and life. From there, there will be conditions for the locality, Dien Bien will almost not have to arrange counterpart funds, or only at a very small level.

In addition, there are at least three other target programs on health, education, and culture, with a total capital of 340,000 billion VND, and Dien Bien will benefit from these programs.

Regarding the content of forest economic development, with a large forest area, Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that Dien Bien needs to develop forest economy associated with forest protection. However, the income from forests is currently only 17 million VND/ha/year, lower than the national average. The Ministry is currently developing specific policies for areas with large forest areas, in order to create a stable source of income instead of just assigning the task of "protecting forests".

The Minister affirmed: “The contents under the Ministry’s authority will be implemented vigorously. The province is requested to proactively coordinate and promptly report difficulties for timely handling.”

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/go-diem-nghen-mo-huong-phat-trien-cho-dien-bien-d787995.html