The Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted a Proposal to submit to the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Rice Council.

On the afternoon of August 6, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien co-chaired a meeting to propose the establishment of a National Rice Council.

Vietnam has achieved many successes in rice production and export. In 2023, it successfully exported 8.1 million tons of rice, an increase of 36.6% over the same period and the highest level in the past 16 years.

Rice production is favorable and stable in 2023 as well as the first 7 months of 2024.

The total output in 2023 will reach 43.5 million tons of paddy, up 1.9% compared to 2022, and the harvested rice output as of July 15, 2024 will be about 25 million tons, up 2% over the same period.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development calculates that in 2024, rice production is estimated to reach about 43.4 million tons of paddy (a decrease of about 35,000 tons), of which the total export volume is estimated to reach about 7.6 million tons.

In the first 7 months of the year, rice exports continued to be a bright spot, with 5.18 million tons, worth 3.27 billion USD, up 5.8% in volume and 25.1% in value. The average export price reached 632.2 USD/ton.

According to the draft, the National Rice Council is responsible for researching and proposing to the Government and Prime Minister on transparent and effective policies, strategies, mechanisms and policies to ensure comprehensive and sustainable development of the rice industry.

Rice production and export are favorable, but according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, the current legal framework is revealing many issues that need to be considered, revised and supplemented as it has not created strong enough motivations and a favorable environment for producers and rice export traders.

Relevant information and data are not complete, authentic, timely and do not reflect reality, causing difficulties in operating, managing production and exporting rice at sensitive times.

Besides, the rice industry also has some limitations such as unplanned production leading to local surplus affecting producers; low income of rice farmers, life of some groups is still difficult.

Along with that are the challenges of climate change, rapidly evolving domestic and global markets, changing consumption trends, and the depletion of many resources, especially water resources.

Therefore, Minister Hoan said: "To diversify products, markets, and income sources for rice growers and rice production areas, improve climate change resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to environmental protection, protect and effectively use natural resources, an effective coordination mechanism between ministries, sectors, and localities is needed to coordinate common activities in the rice industry."

From the problems of the rice industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed to establish a National Rice Council.

According to the draft proposal to establish a National Rice Council, the Deputy Prime Minister will be the Chairman of the Council; the Minister of Industry and Trade will be the Permanent Vice Chairman, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will be the Vice Chairman.

Council members are representatives of the leaders of the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Finance, Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs; representatives of the People's Committees of some localities.

On August 1, the Ministry of Industry and Trade drafted a Submission to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister in charge, and related documents on the establishment of the National Rice Council.

In terms of function, the Council is an inter-sectoral coordination organization that advises the Prime Minister on research, direction, and coordination to resolve important inter-sectoral issues related to the development of the rice industry.

The Council is responsible for researching and proposing to the Government and the Prime Minister policies, strategies, mechanisms and policies to create a transparent and effective legal environment, ensure market stability and development, promote comprehensive development of the rice industry, ensure social welfare and national food security, develop production and export towards sustainable goals.

Research, advise, recommend, and propose to the Prime Minister directions and solutions to solve important, inter-sectoral issues in the development and implementation of policies, strategies, mechanisms, and policies to promote the development of the rice industry.

At the same time, give opinions on strategies, programs, mechanisms, policies... related to the rice industry under the Government's decision-making authority. Closely coordinate with ministries and branches to collect information, analyze and evaluate the production and export situation of the rice industry.