Deputy PM urges new agricultural policy

Workers of the Dong Giao Food Export Joint Stock Co in the northern province of Ninh Binh process fruit for export. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

HA NOI — Viet Nam needs to build a comprehensive agricultural development model in order to raise the quality of the country's produce and competitiveness, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung.

At the third emulation congress for the agriculture and rural development sector yesterday, Hung said rural construction should be congruent with urban construction that focuses on developing cultural life, education, health care and traditional culture.

More than 73 per cent of the country's total population, about or 65 million people, are farmers who provide food security to the whole nation, Hung stressed. He added that it was essential to mobilise all resources to help promote agricultural and rural development.

The agricultural sector set a target to maintain an average annual growth rate of between 3.5-3.8 per cent by 2015, with an annual export turnover of US$21 billion.

The sector should take comprehensive steps to achieve the target, including measures relating to technology and market development, human resources development and infrastructure investment, Hung said.

Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan said the sector's programme would encourage farmers to improve their operations and create new jobs in the fields of industry and services in rural areas.

The sector plans to promote research to have more scientific and technological methods implemented in production to develop new varieties of farm produce. The group will also invest in cultivation technology, disease and insect prevention, agro-forestry and fishery preservation and processing in order to reduce production cost, while improving output, quality and food safety and hygiene, Tan said.

During the 2006-10 emulation movement period, the agricultural sector achieved an average growth rate of 3.4 per cent each year, exceeding the Government's target of 3-3.2 per cent.

Viet Nam exported about 25 million tonnes of rice during the past five years, earning a turnover of more than $10 billion.

During the period, the sector worked with 160 Official Development Assistance-funded projects. The total amount of ODA equalled nearly $1.42 billion, 45 per cent of which was non-refundable aid. — VNS