The French government took several steps to develop agriculture in Vietnam. Three among them are given below:
(i) A network of canals was built. Drawing of lands in the Mekong delta was started in order to increase cultivation.
(ii) The vast system of irrigation works canals and earthworks—built mainly with forced labour, increased rice production and allowed the export of rice to the international market.
(iii) The area under rice cultivation went up from 274000 hectares in 1873 to 1.1 million hectares in 1900 and 2.2 million in 1930.
(iv) Vietnam exported 2/3rd of its rice production to the international market.
(v) Vietnam became the third largest exporter of rice in the world.
