Plan proposed to avoid $2.8 bln in post-harvest losses

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed to the government a plan that it says will help save VND50 trillion (US$2.8 billion) in post-harvest losses incurred every year by the agricultural sector.

The plan involves offering loans of up to 70 percent to farmers and businesses for the purchase of agricultural machines and equipment for production, building drying grounds and warehouses. The plan envisages an expenditure of VND39.5 trillion ($2.2 billion) by 2020.

The state budget would provide VND5.3 billion of this amount, VND21 trillion ($1.1 billion) would be raised through loans, and the rest would be contributed by farmers and enterprises.

The ministry has also suggested reducing import tariffs on agricultural machinery from 5 percent to zero percent.

If approved, the plan is expected to be implemented mainly in the Mekong River and Red River deltas, the nation’s two major rice baskets.

thanhnien, SGGP

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