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PM’s decision hailed by farmers
The instruction by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to do away with rice export quotas released earlier this week has been welcomed by farmers. The rice price has already moved up.
The main topic in the discussions of farmers in Mekong Delta these days is the instruction by Prime Minister instructing that annual rice export quotas for localities be abolished, no rice be left unsold and reasonable profit be ensured for farmers.
Farmers “rescued”
“I believe that the paddies of the summer-autumn crop will be salable,” said Tran Hoan Vinh, a farmer in An Giang province. “It’s wonderful that we can sell rice.”
Nguyen Cong Danh, a farmer, who was sitting next to Vinh, added: “I just hope the Prime Minister’s instruction will be strictly obeyed by the government agencies and enterprises will ensure that farmers get profit.”
Nguyen Van Dong, who has 50,000 square metres of rice field in An Giang province, said that the decision by the Prime Minister has “rescued” millions of farmers in Mekong Delta. He said that just a few days ago, farmers were gravely concerned they would be unable to sell paddies in the peak crop.
“The Government’s instruction to purchase all paddies from farmers shows that it aims to share losses and difficulties with farmers,” Dong said.
Dr Le Van Banh, Head of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, said that if the Prime Minister’s instruction is effectively implemented, and farmers can sell paddies for profit, they will be able to go about their work with untroubled minds.
Enterprises “untied”
Not only farmers, rice exporters in the Mekong Delta are also happy about the decision. They say that they could have exported hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice a year, but as they were not able to export more than the allowed levels, they dared not purchase much rice from farmers.
The enterprises say that the removal of the rice quotas will “untie” localities and enterprises.
Le Van Nguyen, Director of the Kien Giang Farm Produce Trade Company, said previously, enterprises only began collecting rice from farmers after they got quotas from the Vietnam Food Association, which made local enterprises miss many business opportunities.
“As the Government has decided to stop allocating quotas for rice export, enterprises will be able to take initiative in signing export contracts,” Nguyen said.
Meanwhile, rice prices have moved up a little by 800-1,000 dong per kilogramme. Normal rice is retailing at 7,000-8,000 dong per kilogramme at Long Xuyen Market in An Giang province, while long-grain rice at 9,000 dong per kilogramme.
Nguyen Van Sang, who has harvested the early summer-autumn crop in Dong Thap province, related that IR 50404 rice is selling at 4,200 dong per kilogramme, up by 800 dong per kilogramme over last week, while Jasmine rice at 4,500 dong.
VietNamNet, NLD
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