Vietnam has worked hard for the effective and sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas in economic, social and environmental aspects.

Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat made this affirmation at a plenary meeting of the International Support Group (ISG), themed “ Vietnam responds to the new vision in agriculture”, in Hanoi on October 26.

The meeting, co-chaired by Minister Phat and World Bank Country Director in Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa, drew the participation of over 200 delegates and domestic and international donors.

By 2050, Vietnam ’s demand for food will double, Phat said, stressing that Vietnam pledges to implement objectives of the new vision, including raising agricultural production by 20 percent, and reducing carbon emissions by 20 percent and the poverty rate by 20 percent per decade.

Participants discussed such issues as effective and sustainable agricultural growth, poverty reduction and rural development and greenhouse emission reduction in agriculture.

The WB Country Director suggested the Government be more flexible in management and create conditions for the donor community to raise the efficiency of the agricultural sector.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vietnamese agricultural sector has maintained remarkable growth over the past 10 years with export turnover increasing from 4.3 billion USD in 2000 to 19.4 billion USD in 2010./.