The German Technical Cooperation Group (GTZ) has committed a 500,000 euros (US$672.000) grant to the extension of a German-funded potato cultivation project.

A package document was signed in Hanoi on Thursday by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Bui Ba Bong, and Dr. Guenter W. Riethmacher, GTZ Country Director.

The grant will be spent on the two-year second phase II of a project that was launched in January of 2000.

The second phase will focus on developing potato propagation systems, promoting commercial potato produc­tion, supporting co-operation and joint ventures and self-regulation within the industry through the Vietnam Potato Asso­ciation.

With total funding of $6.53 million, the ten-year project aims to raise Vietnamese potato farmers’ incomes through in­tensive potato production.

Project managers say the project has contributed significantly to boosting potato production in north­ern Vietnam.

Source: VNA/Thanhnien