The Government has approved a plan to set up high-tech agricultural zones and areas around the country that aims to have 10 such zones by 2020.

The 10 have been or are being set up in Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Binh Duong and Hau Giang provinces and Can Tho and HCM City.

To measure between 65ha and 460ha, each zone will have, besides an administrative centre, areas for research and experiments in new high-tech agricultural production, technology transfer, farming, and waste treatment.

The Can Tho high-tech agriculture zone, for instance, will spread over 244ha in Co Do District and focus on vegetables, flowers, rice, speciality fruits, pig, poultry, and aquatic species. The zone will also process agricultural produce using advanced technologies.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city is now soliciting investment for setting up the zone.

Besides the zones, the plan also envisages development of high-tech agricultural areas focusing on local specialities. Thus, there will be areas for growing coffee in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), north-western and north-central regions, for dragon fruit in Binh Thuan Province, for vegetables in Lao Cai and Lam Dong provinces, Hai Phong, Ha Noi and HCM City and for fruits in the southern region.

There will also be high-tech agricultural areas for dairy farming in Son La, Nghe An and Lam Dong provinces and Ha Noi, raising pigs in the Hong (Red) Delta and south-eastern regions and poultry in the Red River Delta and central and southern regions.

Places in the Red River Delta, northern-central and central coastal regions and the south will focus on breeding saline and brackish water shrimp.

By 2030 the country will set up at least 10 more high-tech agricultural zones, including in Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Son La, Nam Dinh and Nghe An provinces and Ha Noi.

Developers of high-tech agricultural zones and investors in the zones will be offered various incentives.