Legal framework is not enough motivation for rice production and export

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that in 2024, rice production is estimated to reach about 43.4 million tons of paddy, of which the total export volume is estimated to reach about 7.6 million tons; rice exports continued to have high growth in the past 7 months when the volume increased by 5.8% (reaching 5.18 million tons) and the value increased by 25.1% (reaching 3.27 billion USD), the average export price reached 632.2 USD/ton.

Along with the development of rice production and export, there have been efforts to build, perfect and supplement legal frameworks and policies to promote rice production and trading by the Agriculture and Industry and Trade sectors over the past long period.

Typically, the promulgation of Decree No. 107/2018/ND-CP of the Government on rice export business and the Strategies and Projects of the Government and ministries have contributed to stabilizing the domestic market, promoting production, processing and export; enhancing the position and reputation of Vietnamese rice products; consolidating and expanding the consumption market at prices beneficial to farmers.

However, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the current legal frameworks are revealing many issues that need to be considered, revised and supplemented as they have not created strong enough motivations and a favorable environment for producers and traders in rice export business; related information and data are not complete, authentic, timely and do not reflect reality, causing difficulties in operating and managing rice production and export 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.

In particular, in the new context when facing many challenges of climate change, changing consumption trends, declining resources... the Minister said that an effective coordination mechanism between ministries, branches and localities is needed in coordinating common activities of the rice industry in addition to the specialized management of the ministries.

Sharing the same view, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien also affirmed that the rice industry not only plays a pivotal role in national food security but is also a potential and strong industry of Vietnam, and also an industry that contributes to building the Vietnamese brand...

However, besides the achieved results, rice export activities still have some limitations such as: rice production is fragmented, technology is not advanced; income of rice farmers is still low; rice export still depends on traditional markets, not diversifying the market, causing certain impacts on export efficiency...

"In particular, although they have a brand, businesses have not used it in production and export activities, and have not created a brand for Vietnamese rice products in the hearts of foreign consumers," Minister Nguyen Hong Dien pointed out.

According to Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, the main reason for the above backlog is that the rice industry still lacks a strategy, or in other words, lacks a stable and solid development policy.

Unanimously make major decisions for the rice industry

Faced with the above situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have the idea and are highly unanimous in proposing the establishment of a National Rice Council.

Based on the comments of the delegates and the recommendations at the meeting, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will receive and complete the draft to submit to the Government as soon as possible. The two ministries hope to continue receiving comments from ministries, branches and localities. At the same time, the competent agencies of the two ministries will continue to research and coordinate closely and effectively so that the National Rice Council can operate effectively.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade - said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has drafted a Submission to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister in charge and related documents on the establishment of the National Rice Council and on August 1, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Official Dispatch No. 5017/BCT-XNK to Ministries, branches, localities, and Associations to seek opinions before reporting to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in charge.

Accordingly, the Council members include 1 Chairman of the Council: Deputy Prime Minister; 2 permanent Vice Chairmen of the Council are the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Council members are representatives of the leaders of the ministries: Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Finance, Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs; representatives of the leaders of the People's Committees of some localities.

The Council will function as an inter-sectoral coordination organization to advise 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 and effective development of the rice industry, contribute to ensuring social security and national food security, develop production and export towards sustainable goals.

The Council also studies, advises, recommends, and proposes 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.

In addition, the Council also assists the Prime Minister in directing and coordinating ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial and municipal People's Committees and relevant agencies and organizations in resolving important, inter-sectoral issues in the development of the rice industry... At the same time, the Council also closely coordinates with ministries and sectors to collect information, analyze and evaluate the production and export situation of the rice industry.