Over the recent years, with their cultivation techniques and production processes meeting stringent food safety standards, Hoa Binh’s sugarcane products have been exported to several countries worldwide. The province's agricultural sector is taking various measures to enhance the productivity and quality of fresh sugarcane across its cultivation areas.
Workers at the Tien Ngan trading investment company (Hoa Binh City) process white sugarcane.
Last year, the province’s sugarcane plantations span 6,605 ha. Of this, 4,529 ha were utilised for fresh sugarcane cultivation, yielding nearly 34,000 tonnes. The market price of sugarcane remained relatively stable at around 4,500 (0.18 USD) - 5,000 VND per cane, with an average per hectare income ranging from 200 to 250 million VND. The export volume of the plant to markets such as the Republic of Korea, the EU, and the US, meanwhile, amounted to 280 tonnes.
Nguyen Hong Yen, Director of the provincial Sub-department of Plant Protection and Cultivation, said over the recent years, the sugarcane production using tissue culture has begun to yield effective results. Plants with high productivity and quality, and better appearance have been developed, and purebred varieties maintained to provide breeding materials for expanding cultivation areas in subsequent crops.
Several main sugarcane cultivation areas with high quality and reputable brands have been established across the province, including in those in Cao Phong district (Nam Phong, Dung Phong, Thu Phong, Tay Phong, and Thach Yen communes), Tan Lac district (Phong Phu, My Hoa, and Phu Vinh communes), Lac Son district (An Nghia, Tan My, and Yen Nghiep communes), and Tu Son commune in Kim Boi district.
However, the development of fresh sugarcane faces numerous difficulties and challenges. These include limited varieties for planting, multi-seasonal and intercropping cultivation, inconsistent farming techniques and pest control measures among farmers, a declining sugarcane cultivation area, unstable market outlets, and limited investment in processing activities.
Recently, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Document No. 1253/SNN-PPC on implementing measures to enhance the productivity and quality of fresh sugarcane in Hoa Binh. Accordingly, the department requires a comprehensive review of the current situation, with specific evaluations of varieties, productivity, and yield. It is also necessary to select suitable areas for concentrated cultivation, to boost support for the establishment of sugarcane production and consumption cooperatives, and to support enterprises in upgrading and improving processing technology lines for fresh sugarcane, among other measures.
Aside from engaging in agricultural sector, there still some non-agricultural occupations that are suitable for women, especially ethnic minority women in rural areas. Based on the demand of learners, agencies and units in Yen Thuy district have implemented vocational training programmes that associate with employment opportunities and meet demand of labour market.
Over recent years, the People's Committee of Lac Son district has implemented various policies to support vocational training in traditional industry cooperatives, especially in ethnic minority areas. As a result, many households have get rid of poverty. Vocational training and startup support projects have also helped create numerous new jobs, increase income for workers, improve living conditions, and create conditions for sustainable development in the ethnic minority areas of the district.
A collective labour agreement (CLA) is a negotiated document between employees and employers that outlines agreed-upon working conditions, achieved through collective bargaining. CLA is considered a key solution to minimising and resolving conflicts within businesses, fostering harmonious, stable, and progressive labour relations, which in turn help businesses thrive and ensure stable, higher incomes for workers.
With a determination to start the construction of the Hoa Binh-Moc Chau expressway’s section crossing Hoa Binh before September 2, the Party Committees and administrations at all levels of Da Bac district have focused on site clearance to hand over the clean site to the project as scheduled.
Hoa Binh province’s public administrative service centre has implemented the "people and business-centred administration” model since 2018. It has been equipped with modern equipment, including an automatic ticketing system, surveillance cameras, computers, scanners, and software so that administrative procedures have been settled and results returned in a timely manner.
Over the years, Lac Thuy district has paid great attention to personnel development by employing many people from ethnic minority groups to work as public servants and creating optimal conditions for intellectuals to promote their talents.