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, state media reported, citing Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The PM 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.
Praising the sector for its outstanding achievements rising volume and export value of rice, corn, seafood, rubber and coffee despite difficulties, Mr Dung pointed out shortcomings such as 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.
Mr Dung directed the agriculture sector to keep a close watch on capital disbursement for its key projects, and encouraged all economic sectors to invest in the field.
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 industrialization and modernization.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that even though Vietnamese agricultural sector suffered huge losses of VND13.3 trillion caused by natural disasters during 2008, it saw bumper crops, with agro-forestry and fishery products increasing significantly in both volume and value.
In 2008, Vietnam’s agricultural productivity increased by 5.6 per cent. The number of pig raised by farmers increased by 0.53 per cent, poultry by 9.4 per cent and aquaculture products by 15.3 per cent compared with 2007.
The country’s total food production output hit 43.16 million tons, including 38.6 million tons of paddy, up 2.7 million tons from last year. (Saigon Liberation, Vietnam Agriculture)
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