Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan emphasized that over the past 25 years, Vietnam’s rice production has achieved remarkable developments in terms of productivity, quality, science and technology. From a food importer, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading rice exporters and has ensured national food security every year.
Mr Tan expressed his hope that through the seminar, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities across the country will learn from experts and scientists to help the Vietnamese Government and the agricultural sector devise proper strategies and policies, upgrade post-harvest technologies, promote trade and expand markets in order to develop rice production in Vietnam, increase farmers’ incomes and ensure food security for the nation and the world.
Foreign and local scholars stressed the need to improve the quality of Vietnamese rice in the world market to compete with other exporters. With its annual output of more than 40 million tones, Vietnam is now one of the top three rice exporters that could decide the world price but competition among rice exporters remains fierce.
Delegates shared the view that it is time that Vietnam prioritized higher rice quality to increase its value and product efficiency.
The event, co-organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Soc Trang provincial People’s Committee, is part of the ongoing rice festival in the province.
(VOV)
