Raising agro-products’ competitiveness to cope with economic slowdown

VGP - Being aware of challenges and difficulties in 2009, agricultural sector set directions for production activities, focusing on raising productivity, quality and competitiveness of agro-products.

December 06, 2008 9:12 AM GMT+7

Harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta – Illustration photo

Due to the global financial crisis, it is predicted that the sector may have to face a lot of difficulties next year.

A large number of agro-products will be massively imported into Việt Nam, challenging domestic production.

Thus, the sector is planning to restructure production activities, introduce high-quality varieties and scientific advances in order to reduce cost price and raise the paddy rice yield to 37.5-38 million tons. Around 4.5-5 million tons of husked rice are for export.

Among short-term industrial crops, the areas of peanut and sugar-cane account for 270,000 ha and 300,000 ha respectively.

The sector will spare no effort to speed up the afforestation of 5 million ha, support and encourage the growing of productive forests and the processing of forestry products for export, decrease export tax imposed on furniture to zero, and raise credits for business.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development already proposed the reduction of enterprise revenue tax for small and medium businesses operating in agriculture.

It is necessary to increase investment in agriculture through the program to solidify 12,841 km canals to 2015, raise aid for disadvantaged communes to VND 1.5 billion per year, and enrich the national reserve to cope with natural calamities and epidemics.

By Thùy Dung