Removing obstacles to infrastructure and technical support projects for high-quality rice in the Mekong Delta

On the afternoon of October 9, in Can Tho city, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment chaired by Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam held a working session with ministries, branches and localities to agree on proposed solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for the Project "Supporting infrastructure and techniques for high-quality and low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta" (referred to as the Project).

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam gave a speech.

In his directive speech, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said that immediately after the working session, the Ministry will send an official dispatch to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region to give written comments on the contents agreed upon at the working session and related recommendations and proposals so that the Ministry has a basis to advise and propose the Government to issue a resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for the Project.

Mr. Tran Thanh Nam requested the Management Board of Agricultural Projects to receive opinions from relevant localities and units to supplement the contents and tasks that need to be performed in the Project components; including investing in electric pumping stations connected to the sewer system and electrical infrastructure to ensure good operation and service for the application of techniques in high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation...

At the meeting, the Management Board of Agricultural Projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant units reported on the progress of project preparation and the work to be done in the coming time, as well as the difficulties and obstacles that need to be resolved to ensure the progress of project implementation...

Mr. Tran Chi Hung, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, suggested that infrastructure investment also requires the construction of pumping stations, because when applying the science and technology of alternating wet and dry irrigation in the 1 million hectare rice project, when the water level rises and falls, without pumping stations, it will be impossible to regulate the water level as desired.

In addition, after the establishment of the two-level local government, most provinces have not yet completed the Steering Committee for the implementation of the 1 million hectare rice project. Therefore, after completing the structure, the provincial level should organize the leadership of the communes participating in the 1 million hectare rice project into the general Steering Committee of the province.

After discussion and comments, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of localities in the Mekong Delta region agreed on the content of the Draft Resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for the Project "Supporting infrastructure and techniques for high-quality and low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta region", using IBRD loan capital (under the World Bank Branch) to be submitted to the Government in the coming time.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will be the governing body of the entire Project and the level that decides on the investment policy and investment decisions of the Project. The Ministry is responsible for approving the overall plan of the Project and allocating capital to each province according to the components.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities participating in the Infrastructure Support Project are the beneficiaries of the assets and the results of the Project implementation process according to the provisions of law. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the localities will perform the obligations of the provincial-level investor, in coordination with the local authorities and technical staff at the commune level to implement the Project in the province.

In addition, the People's Committees of provinces and cities are responsible for assigning local agencies and organizations to receive, manage, use, maintain and repair public assets formed from the Project, ensuring the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the Infrastructure Support Project.

It is expected that the Project will have a special financial mechanism using capital from the central budget to spend on development investment for public infrastructure works; development and technology transfer activities in the Project are part of the expenditure tasks of the local budget.

Working scene.

In addition, the Project will allocate 100% of IBRD loan capital and counterpart capital to invest in public infrastructure works, development activities and technology transfer in the Project, which are not part of the central budget's expenditure tasks.

According to the Agricultural Project Management Board (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the Project "Infrastructure and technical support for high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta" using loan capital from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a branch of the World Bank (WB) is identified as a particularly important public investment project to implement the Project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1490/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2023.

The total estimated capital of the Project is 405 million USD; of which, WB loan from IBRD is 315 million USD; counterpart capital of the Vietnamese Government is 90 million USD. The World Bank has committed to mobilize 50 million USD in non-refundable capital.

The Mekong Delta High Quality, Low Emission Rice Infrastructure and Technical Support Project includes three components: Infrastructure development for the high quality, low emission rice value chain (component 1); Technology development and transfer (component 2) and Project management (component 3).

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/go-vuong-du-an-ho-tro-ha-tang-ky-thuat-cho-lua-chat-luong-cao-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-20251009204417315.htm