The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) kicked off a project on rural infrastructure development in the Central Highlands at a March 15 conference in Dak Lak province.

The US$87.58 million project, including US$80 million financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to reduce the number of poor households and push the sustainable development of the five Central Highlands provinces - Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong.

It will focus on upgrading irrigation works and constructing rural roads to link production areas.

In his statement, MARD Deputy Minister Hoang Van Thang highlighted the region’s advantages in developing high added-value farm produce such as coffee, rubber and pepper. However, he pointed out its shortcomings in land management, water resources, and irrigation works.

Thang suggested these provinces accelerate ground clearance for the construction of their essential facilities to implement the project effectively.

When finished, the project will help local farming households increase their income by 20%, reduce the rate of poor households in the region to 25%, raise businesses’ revenue from farm produce by 30% and generate 255,000 local jobs, Thang said.

(VOV)