Farmers in the south central coastal province of Ninh Thuan have benefited from a project that provided modernised-irrigation technology (MIT) from 2014 to 2015.

The project was sponsored by the International Development Enterprises (IDE) Vietnam.

Vice President of Ninh Thuan province’s Farmers Association Do Hong Ky said the MIT model was implemented in two phases at a total cost of 23.7 billion VND, of which locals’ capital was 21.5 billion VND, with 2,355 households farming an area of 578 hectares participating.

In the first phase, 1,397 households installed MIT models over 323 hectares at a total cost of 12.9 billion VND. After phase 1 finished, 258 households, who were not beneficiaries of the project, spent 2.5 billion VND to install MIT models, by themselves, on 63 hectares.

In the second phase, 700 households installed MIT models on 192 hectares at a cost of 8.2 billion VND.

The MIT models helped cut 70-75 percent of labour needed for watering, 40-45 percent of water use, 30 percent of energy use and 30 percent of fertiliser use. It also helped boost productivity and income, and expand production area, land value and land use efficiency.

Tran Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Thuan province People’s Committee said the project helped raise farmers’ awareness of modern technology for agricultural production./.

Source: VNA