At the session (Photo: VNA) This is a strategy for the sustainabledevelopment of the sector, Hoan said during the question-and-answersession with the legislators on June 7, as part of the ongoing third session ofthe National Assembly.
The topics of discussion included agriculturalproduction, trade policies and frameworks, and negotiation and marketdevelopment for these products.
Acknowledging that the export value of thesector reached a record 48.6 billion USD in 2021, he hoped that the entirecountry could participate in the collective economy and restructure the marketand production process, contributing to a shift in thinking and positioning thebrand of Vietnam’s produce on the global stage.
Answering questions about export congestion atthe border gate between Vietnam and China, the minister said the authoritieshad taken actions to minimise losses for farmers. However, the situation wasinevitable due to the differences in pandemic control between the twocountries.
Hoan also confirmed that the Chinesemarket was shifting towards stricter regulations and standards in food safety.The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was working with theMinistry of Foreign Affairs to develop a project on obtaining officialquotas for this market.
The MARD also took responsibility for itsshortcomings in regulating and standardising agricultural produce, said Hoan.The minister was now assigning research institutes to create frameworks foragricultural production to reduce input costs.
“Countries around the world are aiming theiragricultural sector towards ‘less for more’, which means optimising expensesand maximising profits through agricultural science, and we too must strivetowards this direction,” said Hoan.
In regard to the application of advancedtechnology in the sector, the minister said that there had been policies andplans in place for hi-tech agricultural zones, businesses and products.However, they had not been as effective as expected due to a shortcoming inresources.
He also added that in a connected economy, inaddition to accumulating land for better production areas, it was necessary tohave ‘soft’ strategies for agricultural land that fit the local conditions, inwhich the government and society join hands to invest and develop hi-techagricultural zones.
The MARD also believes that the sustainabledevelopment strategy for fisheries is to reduce exploitation and increasecultivation, as the reserves are no longer as abundant as before.
In response to questions on the low purchaseprices for farmers despite the high price tags abroad, Hoan explained thatagricultural exports must take into consideration the huge expenses oftransportation and logistics.
He added: “If we want to build a brand of ourproducts abroad, then we must build the brand in the domestic marketfirst.
“Confidence in agricultural products in thecountry will be the basis for export to the world.”
Taking the leaders of Bac Giang, Hung Yen, HaiDuong and other provinces as examples of their efforts to promote their localproduce, Hoan said that these localities had been able to find a market despitethe COVID-19 outbreak last year.
The question-and-answer session will continuewith other ministers and the state bank governor until June 9./.
VNA
