Hanoi (VNA) - Agricultural production inthe capital city remains small-scale and outdated, despite successful landreform and investment in irrigation networks for many years, says the Nong ThonNgay Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper.

The outdated production methods are due to slowapplication of modern technologies, and it has led to low economic values.

Land use certificates have been successfullygranted, which is a prerequisite for farmers to expand production or contributeland as a capital contribution to investment projects.

However, the city’s agricultural production hasnot yet reaped high economic value because most of households still usetraditional production methods.

Explaining the slow application of technology inagricultural production, Chairman of the Quoc Oai District People’s Committee,Nguyen Manh Quyen, told the paper that “at present the municipal authorityfixed land areas for rice planting”.

“This is an obstacle for transitioning the landfor other crops that require high technologies and bring higher economic values,”said Quyen.

However, in Quoc Oai District, some businesseshave bought lands from residents to set up hi-tech farms and achieved someprogresses, he said.

Still, though, businesses face the difficultfact that agricultural land prices rocket upward when locals hear about hi-techfarming projects, he said.

Analysing the situation, Dr. Dang Van Dong,director of the Vegetable and Fruit Institute, said “this is due to ineffectivemanagement and a lack of close co-operation among farmers, businesses,scientists and authorities”.

“So far, we haven’t mobilised sources fromdomestic private and foreign businesses to invest in hi-tech farming,” he said.

Chu Phu My, director of the Hanoi Agricultureand Rural Development Department, said in the context of fierce climate changeand rapid urbanisation, farming is indispensable to surviving and competing inthe international integration process.

The capital city set a goal that by 2020,hi-tech agricultural production value will account for 35 percent of the totalagricultural value.

However, so far, the hi-tech farming areadesignated for 2016-2020 is still slow, according to review of the city’ssteering committee of new rural development.

According to Ha Minh Hai, director of the HanoiFinance Department, appropriate policies are considered a prerequisite forluring capital to hi-tech farming. Each local needs to review agriculturalproduction plans to attract investors. – VNA