Two delegates exchange ideas at the talk. (Source: VNA) Ho Chi MinhCity (VNA) – Netherlands’ Consulate General in HCM City on March 20organised a talk to share the European country’s experience in developingsustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.
According toMarjolijn Sonnema, Deputy Minister in charge of agriculture of the DutchMinistry of Economic Affairs, Dutch enterprises have a lot of experience indeveloping sustainable agriculture and are willing to assist the development ofthe sector in Vietnam.
A representativeof the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam said in order to implement projects ondeveloping sustainable agriculture, the private sector’s participation isimportant in the context of diminishing ODA and limited State budget.
Dutch expertswere 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 waterresources properly in production in order to achieve sustainable development.
Businessrepresentatives shared information on feasible solutions to increase rice crop productivityin the Mekong Delta in the context of drought and saline intrusion, initiativeson sustainable production chains and the needs for training in the agriculturalsector, among others.
A representativeat the East West Seed Company said at the current population growth in theworld, by 2050, in order to meet demand on food, agricultural productivity mustincrease 70 percent. Therefore, new high yield food crop varieties suitablewith natural conditions are needed, he said, stressing that the needs of smallfarming households should be taken into consideration during the process.
Director ofNedspice Vietnam Willem Van Walt Meijer said farmers will earn more profit whenjoining production chains for quality products of clear origins. His company iscarrying out a project on the sustainable cultivation of pepper with theparticipation of 500 farmer households in the southeast province of Binh Phuoc.
In the pastyears, Vietnam and Netherlands have signed many agreements on agriculture, foodsecurity, climate change and water resource management.-VNA
