The Vietnamese agricultural ministry has sought government approval to finance a VND5 billion (US$238,000) project to help Laos improve agricultural production, Vietnam News Agency reported Sunday.

The project, which is scheduled to be carried out from now until June 2012, also aims to develop Lao rural areas and assist farmers, the agency said.

The project was designed to help the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry work out a detailed strategy to develop agricultural production, including assessing the current situation and researching international practices.

Created by Vietnam’s Institute of Strategy and Policies for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Lao National Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Research, the project is part of an agreement on economic, cultural, scientific and technological co-operation signed between the two governments on August 1, 2009.