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Agricultural sector asked to boost production
The agriculture and rural development sector should make full use of land funds to expand the types of production, increase productivity and improve product quality while supporting farmers in selling staples.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the proposal at a conference in Hanoi on December 29 to draw up the sector’s plans for 2009. “This is a necessary measure to prevent an economic downturn, maintain growth and ensure social security,” said Mr. Dung.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that 2008 saw bumper crops, with agro-forestry and fishery products increasing significantly in both volume and value.
Notably, rice output rose by 2.7 million tonnes - the highest level so far - while seafood output reached more than 4.5 million tonnes, surpassing the plan set for 2010. The three staples contributed more than US$16 billion to the country’s total export value. Coffee, rubber, rice, wooden products, shrimp and Tra fish earned more than US$1 billion from export each.
PM Dung praised the sector for its outstanding efforts to overcome difficulties, such as natural disasters, epidemics and price hikes to develop comprehensively. The volume and export value of rice, corn, seafood, rubber and coffee not only increased considerably but also surpassed the five-year development plan for 2010, said Mr Dung.
He pointed out problems that need to be solved, including the unsteady growth, low competitiveness, a weak forecast capacity and a lack of qualified human resources. “The sector must comprehensively implement socio-economic development tasks, focusing on the State’s five adopted solutions,” said the government leader.
To this end, he urged the sector to expand production, boost exports, build a rice storing system, help businesses purchase seafood products and build large-scale frozen food storehouses. In addition, the sector should expand export markets and support market promotion activities.
PM Dung directed the agriculture and rural development sector to keep a close watch on capital disbursement for its key projects, and encouraged all economic sectors to invest in the field. He asked the sector to better implement policies, especially government programmes for the poor and those living in remote and mountainous areas.
PM Dung reminded the sector to effectively implement the Party resolution on agriculture, farmers and rural development and to develop human resources for the process of agriculture and rural industrialisation and modernisation.
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