New mindset needed in agricultural production

Hanoi (VNA) – The draft Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development for 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050 will promote the achievements that have been obtained and at the same time solving problems that have still existed in the agriculture sector, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan has said.

Speaking in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Hoan said the development of agriculture is still based on separate sectors such as livestock, aquaculture and crop cultivation, while the new approach aims for the integration and multi-value resonance from all sectors.

There is a concept of "less is more" in the world today. It means that lowering costs for higher results. Over the years, much investment has been poured into the agriculture sector and land is utilised which could be translated into a value, but future generations would be affected in the long term. That is unsustainable development, he said, adding that the strategy will deal with the problem.

According to the minister, to reach the goal of sustainable development, the agriculture sector must think beyond production, saying the largest production doesn’t mean the highest growth rate.

He said that it is necessary to pay attention to the added value instead of the productivity of agricultural products, adding that the income of farm producers must be in line with the development of the sector

The strategy is designed towards inclusive growth which includes creating jobs and benefits through the product chain, Hoan said.

The minister emphasised that the old approach that Vietnam must rank first or second in the world in terms of productivity must be changed. He also said that the over-exploitation of natural resources which harms the health of ecosystems should be avoided.

Regarding to the mobilisation of resources for the strategy, Hoan underlined the need to call for more investment from the private sector./.