The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho will strive to sell one million tonnes of rice abroad in 2014, up nearly 100,000 tonnes from last year, for earnings of over US$516 million.— Photo canthotv

CAN THO (Biz Hub)— The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho will strive to sell one million tonnes of rice abroad in 2014, up nearly 100,000 tonnes from last year, for earnings of over US$516 million.

The city considers rice a key foreign currency earner which generates jobs and ensures a steady income for farmers.

In addition to applying the large-scale paddy fields model across an area of 20,000 ha during the 2013-2014 winter-spring crop, the city will encourage businesses to sign rice purchasing contracts with farmers, ensuring sufficient rice for shipment.

Local exporters have secured orders to sell hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice to the Philippines.

In 2013, Can Tho raked in nearly US$500 million from rice export, accounting for 30 per cent of the city's total export value of $1.5 billion. — VNS