 |
|
President Nguyen Minh Triet takes part in the 1,000-year-old Spring Ploughing Festival in the northern province of Ha Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang |
HA NAM — President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the Tich Dien Mua Xuan (Spring Ploughing) Festival, which was first held more than 1,000 years ago, on Saturday in Doi Son Commune, Ha Nam Province.
In his festival address, the President said that although Viet Nam was advancing towards industrialisation and modernisation, agriculture still held an important place, as more than 60 percent of the population relies heavily on farming.
"The festival reminds us to show deep gratitude to our predecessors and our Kings, who cared about and committed to improving production," said Triet.
Clad in a peasant's plain brown outfit, the President ploughed the first furrows and was followed by young women who placed the first seeds in the newly prepared earth amid the applause of a crowd of people.
Ministers, ministerial officials and provincial authorities also took their turns to plough at the festival.
"I am proud of being able to share an experience with our nation's farmers," said Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat. He added: "I hope and pray for bumper crops and favourable weather."
According to organisers, tens of thousands of people took part in this year's Tich Dien Mua Xuan festival, which was the first time held as an official occasion.
The festival began in 987 during the Le dynasty when King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in Doi Son Commune, Duy Tien District, to wish for bumper crops. The practice became an annual tradition held in early Spring.
On Saturday, Triet also launched this year's Tree Planting Festival at the Dong Van Industrial Zone in Ha Nam Province.
This year's Tree Planting Festival, themed "Planting trees to mitigate the impacts of climate change", is the 50th since President Ho Chi Minh launched the first. It has become a national tradition held in early Spring.
After the launch, Triet and other participants planted trees.
In 2009, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 246,000ha of new forests were developed and 170 million trees planted across the country, helping raise the country's green coverage to 39.4 per cent. — VNS