More efforts needed to ensure national food security: PM

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees, the President of the Vietnam Food Association and rice exporters will have to take more drastic measures to ensure national food security and promote sustainable rice production and exports in the current period.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has made such a request in Directive 24/CT-TTg dated August 5.

Under the Directive, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will have to coordinate with the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in directing localities to review planning orientations of large-scale and high-quality rice production areas to ensure the target output of over 43 million tons of paddy per year in the following years.

It is necessary to keep a close watch on developments in the regional and global rice markets, production situation, rice output of each variety and season in the year to balance the source of rice to serve domestic demand and exports; and at the same time, promote negotiations, and remove technical barriers to expand Vietnam’s rice export markets; and promptly guide localities, businesses and farmers to strictly comply with regulations of Vietnam and importing countries.

The Minister of Industry and Trade should coordinate with the heads of relevant agencies in implementing programs and activities to promote Vietnamese rice products and brands, making the most of incentives offered by signed free trade agreements in order to diversify and occupy new and potential markets and improve the competitiveness of Vietnam’s rice industry.

The cabinet leader also requested the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam to proactively and promptly direct the implementation of price stabilization and support measures for rice producers, exporters and traders in accordance with laws.

Attention should be paid to calculating and balancing the appropriate and effective rice reserves so as to ensure no one lack food when disasters or epidemics occur.

By: Vietnam Laws & Legal Forum