Through the economic models, farmers have had access to advanced technologies, the application of biotechnology, and the creation of safe and high-quality agricultural products.

The district's ambitious tourism development goals for the coming years focus on changing the structure of the rural economy to one based on trade and services.

The city has stepped up efforts to promote OCOP items through trade fairs and supermarket chains.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agro-forestry and seafood exports in February 2016 was estimated at 1.88 billion USD, bringing the total export value in the first two months of this year to 4.2 billion USD, up 5.5% against the same period last year.

Agriculture is poised to drive a new era of economic growth for Vietnam, if the nation focuses on revolutionizing how smallholder farms are operated and implements needed institutional reforms, say experts.

Amid the formation of the AEC and the upcoming enforcement of FTAs, Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, director of the Vietnam Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, shared about potential challenges to farm exports and opportunities to attract foreign investment in agriculture.

Foreign markets, especially Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement members, will take in Vietnamese fruit and vegetables this year, but the question now is how to supply enough volume while following strict safety standards, an official said.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has agreed to add 414,676 USD to the project funded by the United Nation (UN) supporting the national target programme on building new-style rural areas.

The Prime Minister has asked the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to allocate the State budget for the implementation of the national target programme on building new-style rural areas this year.

The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and Japan’s Komtek Corporation will cooperate in developing value chains for agricultural products of cooperatives in Vietnam as a way to help improve the country’s competitiveness.

This direction was said by Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Xuan Viet at the conference held on January 7 to review performances of the munincipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2015 and tasks for 2016.

The Philippine National Food Authority (NFA) is planning to import at least 50,000 tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand in an effort to have a sufficiency of rice throughout the country this year.

Promoting the application of science and technology is the decisive factor to agriculture restructuring, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the agriculture sector at a conference in Hanoi on January 5.

On the occasion of new year, State President Truong Tan Sang visited several hi-tech agricultural farms in the new-style rural district of Don Duong and Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province.

Panamanian enterprises want to cooperate with Vietnamese counterparts in rice cultivation and distribution, as heard at a rice trade promotion workshop held recently in Chiriqui province – Panama’s largest granary.

According to the Department of Plant Protection, Viet Nam’s mango exports to Japan have surged high.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised a ceremony in Hanoi on November 14 to celebrate the sector’s 70th traditional day and its fourth patriotic emulation congress.

Doan Hung grapefruit has been awarded "Golden Brand of Agriculture 2015" by General Assembly for Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.

The 15th International Agriculture Trade Fair (AgroViet 2015) opened at the Exhibition Center, 489 Hoang Quoc Viet street, Hanoi on November 6.

Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson shared his country’s experience in fishing and seafood processing at a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 6.

A vegetable farm run by Mua Company in Long Thanh district, the southern province Dong Nai, has become the first in Vietnam to be certified as meeting organic cultivation standards of the US Department of Agriculture and the EU.

The 15th International Agriculture Trade Fair (Agro Viet 2015), which will be organised in Hanoi from November 6-9, will feature 400 booths from foreign and domestic businesses and organisations.

The rice market is expected to continue gaining ground in export, as the Philippines plans to import a million tonnes in early 2016.