Vietnam targets sustainable agricultural value chain: Minister

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam aims to develop a comprehensive and sustainable agricultural value chain with close links to global chains and in tandem with climate change response, stated Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

Minister Cuong, who attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2017 in Davos, Switzerland, noted that Vietnam has enjoyed close ties with the WEF in many areas, including the New Vision for Agriculture initiative.

Since 2010, the country has encouraged the involvement of the State and private sector in the initiative through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV), aiming towards the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s agriculture.

Major objectives of the PSAV include enhancing sustainable agriculture standards, building policies and agricultural cultivation methods in Vietnam and strengthening links between the MARD and partners, including State agencies, international and non-governmental organisations, sponsors, research institutes and businesses.

It also aims for sustainable development management on the basis of science and consensus of partners, he said.

The MARD leader said that so far, Vietnam has launched eight PPP working groups for coffee, tea, vegetable, seafood, goods, peppercorn, chemicals and agricultural finance.

About 10,000 Vietnamese farmers are involved in technical models with the application of sustainable standards with the support of multinational groups such as Unilever, Nestle, Metro Cash and Carry, Syngenta, Cargill, Bunge and Pepsico. The models meet economic-social–environment criteria included in 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

The MARD plans to strengthen PSAV activities through setting up information systems and increasing dialogue among the MARD, foreign firms, domestic businesses, and the agricultural trade sector, said Cuong.

Additional PPP working groups will be formed for some trades, he said, adding that the ministry will also focus on re-organising major management systems for farm produce, with the engagement of representatives of State management agencies, businesses, production facilities and farmers.

Minister Cuong said that the ministry has proposed that the WEF support Vietnam in multiplying the PSAV model for 10 major agricultural products of Vietnam, aiming to expand the model to provincial and local products.

Vietnam also asked for assistance in encouraging the private sector to build investment and business plans suitable to agricultural restructuring, he said, adding that Vietnam also hopes to create connectivity between foreign and domestic firms.

More attention will also be paid to supporting organisations, including the Farmers’ Association and cooperatives in expanding successful models, thus increasing income for farmers.-VNA