(VEN) - People in southern Vietnam are seeking ways to promote rice exports in order to improve the lives of rice farmers.
The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta is Vietnam's primary granary. With rice fields totaling more than 3.8 million ha, the delta produces nearly 55 percent of the country's total rice production output and 90 percent of Vietnamese rice for export. Therefore, the State pays much attention to improving the quality of rice in the delta, increasing the production output of rice and especially creating new high quality and high economic value rice varieties.
Increased productivity
Truong Thanh Phong, the president of the Vietnam Rice Export Association, said that Vietnamese rice is exported to 120 countries and territories, accounting for a considerable share on the global rice market. In 2009, Vietnam produced 39 million tonnes of rice, and exported more than six million tonnes worth nearly US$2.7 billion in revenue. Of the total rice production output, 22.6 million tonnes was produced in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and the southeastern region. However, the quality of Vietnamese rice is extremely variable.
To improve the situation, Mr. Phong said, "It is necessary to mechanize rice harvesting activities. Presently, only 28 percent of rice grown in Vietnam is harvested with the support of machinery, and only 25 percent of harvested rice is dried. The State must develop special policies to help rice farmers."
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bui Ba Bong, said that cooperation between rice farmers, processors and exporters in Vietnam is still lacking. "Therefore, in the future, the agricultural sector must build and maintain the linkage between rice farmers, processors and exporters," said deputy minister Bui Ba Bong.
Mr. Bong added that great efforts had been made to make use of the Plain of Reeds (Dong Thap Muoi) and the Long Xuyen Quadrangular (Tu giac Long Xuyen) of Vietnam for agricultural production purposes.
Looking towards professionalism
Dr. Le Van Banh, the director of the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, said that Vietnamese rice researchers are endeavoring to improve the quality of rice varieties grown in the delta. Presently, high quality rice varieties such as IR64, OM1490, OM2031, MTL250, VND95-20 and Khao39 suitable for export are being grown on a large scale in the delta. The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute has created several dozen quality rice varieties that are insect-resistant and high-yield. Of those, more than 30 rice varieties have been put into large-scale production.
Deputy minister Bui Ba Bong said that the State has taken some measures to help rice farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. An example is the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that aims at minimizing the use of pesticide and increasing the use of organic fertilizer to improve the quality of rice, reduce environmental pollution and protect the health of rice farmers and consumers.
Reality shows that the quality of rice will be ensured if it is dried with the support of machinery. Therefore, scientists are being encouraged to research small-sized rice drying machines which can be manufactured for use by households and larger-sized machines for plants that process rice for export. On their side, rice production planners must decide the size of fields where rice is grown for export. Appropriate actions must be taken to ensure domestic food security and the retention of rice price stability.
Nguyen Thanh Nguyen, the vice chairman of Long An province's People's Committee, said that the Dong Thap Muoi Agricultural Research Center and Long An province have carried out a successful project to restore a special rice variety that dates back several hundred years.
Vietnam has exported rice for 21 years. Vietnamese rice has found its position on the international market. Thanks to this, the lives of Vietnamese rice farmers are improving./.
Source: VOV
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