Netherlands helps Vietnam develop sustainable agriculture

Two delegates exchange ideas at the talk. (Source: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Netherlands’ Consulate General in HCM City on March 20 organised a talk to share the European country’s experience in developing sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.

According to Marjolijn Sonnema, Deputy Minister in charge of agriculture of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dutch enterprises have a lot of experience in developing sustainable agriculture and are willing to assist the development of the sector in Vietnam.

A representative of the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam said in order to implement projects on developing sustainable agriculture, the private sector’s participation is important in the context of diminishing ODA and limited State budget.

Dutch experts were of the view that it is necessary to promote industrialization of agriculture, enhance the quality of products instead of quantity and guide farmers in using water resources properly in production in order to achieve sustainable development.

Business representatives shared information on feasible solutions to increase rice crop productivity in the Mekong Delta in the context of drought and saline intrusion, initiatives on sustainable production chains and the needs for training in the agricultural sector, among others.

A representative at the East West Seed Company said at the current population growth in the world, by 2050, in order to meet demand on food, agricultural productivity must increase 70 percent. Therefore, new high yield food crop varieties suitable with natural conditions are needed, he said, stressing that the needs of small farming households should be taken into consideration during the process.

Director of Nedspice Vietnam Willem Van Walt Meijer said farmers will earn more profit when joining production chains for quality products of clear origins. His company is carrying out a project on the sustainable cultivation of pepper with the participation of 500 farmer households in the southeast province of Binh Phuoc. 

In the past years, Vietnam and Netherlands have signed many agreements on agriculture, food security, climate change and water resource management.-VNA