Along with the rapid process of industrialization and urbanization, Binh Duong agricultural and rural sector has shown important changes, contributing greatly to the local common development.   At An Thai hi-tech agriculture production area.A strong change of structureThe provincial structure of agricultural economy has been changed positively with production of high value commodities. Perennial tress and animal husbandry are advantages in the province. The short-term plants with poor efficiency have been replaced by perennial trees with high values such as rubber, citrus tree and so on. In addition, local farmers have paid attention to valued species such wild , porcupine, tortoise, crocodile and many more. At present, the total area of perennial trees in the province has reached nearly 140,000ha, 130,000 of which are for rubber whilst the total cattle herd at over 500,000 cattle, 3.7mil poultries and over 400ha of aquatic product area. The province has gradually established specialized areas in conformity with the developing trend of localities such as Tan Uyen, Phu Giao, Dau Tieng. Thanks to right orientation, many local farmers have applied advances on tech-science into their production. Rate of using new varieties has won 80-100% and 100% of cultivation area has been mechanized. Nearly 80% of poultry herd and over 85% of pig herd have been raised in a central model. Binh Duong provincial agriculture production value has in the recent years shown a stable growth at 4% per year. In the end of 2012, the average production value on one ha has reached VND75mil per year. Highlights on hi-tech and urban agricultureHi-tech and urban agriculture in the province has reached a stable development and become highlights in local agricultural production. Advanced techniques have been applied drastically by local farmers. At present, the total area of urban agriculture in Binh Duong has been at over 170ha with many models such as orchid, ornamental tree, mushroom, vegetable, ornamental fish and many more. Urban agricultural models have been paid much attention by many local farmers. In reality, development of urban agriculture is a right step in conformity with production in the new period of Binh Duong agricultural industry. Binh Duong has also planned and launched building 4 hi-tech agricultural areas with the total are of 991.4ha including An Thai (411.75ha), Tan Hiep-Phuoc Sang (471.86ha) in Phu Giao district and Hieu Liem (90.2ha) and Vinh Tan (17.6ha) in Tan Uyen district. At present, these hi-tech agricultural areas have been put into operation and products of some areas have been launched into the market.Binh Duong's hi-tech cultivation area has been at 354ha with valued plants such as vegetable, mushroom, fruit, orchid, ornamental tree.Doan Minh Chien, the grapefruit grower in Tan Dinh commune, Tan Uyen district said that facing narrowness on production land area, farmers must pay attention to hi-tech agriculture. Growing grapefruit on hi-tech agriculture will create products with high quality and economic efficiency. Pham Van Bong, vice director of the provincial department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that to spur the urban and hi-tech agriculture program, the department has focused on transferring advances on technical science for farmers. In the coming time, the department will mull over measures to help local farmers approach capital sources to build quality production models.New rural areas brightingAfter over 2 years of launching the program on building new rural areas, the socio-situation situation at many communes has shown a strong change. Binh Duong has made breakthroughs in implementing the program.These breakthroughs have made the program reach high quality, surpassing the national criteria of traffic, income, education, healthcare and so on. Khong Van Cuong, chairman of Tan Long commune People's Committee in Phu Giao district said that Tan Long commune's highlighted achievements of the new rural building lie in infrastructure facility in service for community and income improvement of local farmers. With the key programs under agriculture industry, the program of new rural building has shown its efficiency and Binh Duong agricultural industry has over the past time won solid steps on the way of becoming a modern, sustainable and high valued agriculture industry.Reported by D.Binh - Translated by A.C