Rice packages are stored for export at a warehouse of Long An food company. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to closely monitor rice production and exports.
This will help ensure domestic food security and effectively manage export activities, given that prolonged and serious drought and saline intrusion are hitting major granaries in the country, particularly in the Mekong Delta.
This year, the delta expected to plant over 4.3 million hectares of rice fields, which would yield approximately 25.7 million tonnes of rice.
According to preliminary estimations, drought and saltwater have reduced the expected output by 700,000 tonnes, which are equivalent to 350,000 tonnes of rice.
In the first three months of this year, the country exported 1.59 million tonnes of rice.
For the whole year, the export volume is expected to remain at last year’s 6.5 million tonnes.-VNA
