Proposing the issuance of Directive on strengthening rice exports in the new situation

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the export rice situation is in constant change, with the highlight including Russia’s official withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspending rice exports as well as other arising problems. In addition to the El Nino phenomenon within expectation, saltwater intrusion and drought also have negative impacts on rice production in general.

Vietnam always strives to affirm its important role, maintain the position and reputation of the country’s rice industry in the global food supply chain, and contribute to ensuring food security according to its commitments to the world. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently submits to the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation of a Directive on strengthening rice export in the new situation.

The content of the Directive includes specific tasks of the ministries, branches, localities, the Vietnam Food Association and issues that require focus and drastic solutions in order to strengthen rice export in the current context.

The MARD monitors, forecasts and firmly grasps the production situation, strengthens the prevention and control of harmful organisms, and proactively responds to adverse weather changes to protect the safety of crops and ensure the target of 43 million tons of rice in 2023.

The agricultural sector will direct localities to pay keen attention to the fields, organize production strictly according to technical instructions of experts to ensure the fields’ productivity and output as planned; preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and localities to handle technical barriers to ensure an increase in volume and ultimately the expansion of Vietnam's rice export market; direct plant quarantine agencies to create the most favorable conditions for rice export, minimize inspection time, complete procedures on the basis of ensuring compliance with regulations of Vietnam and importing countries.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) continues to promote rice exports while monitoring and making close forecasts of the import and export situation, consumption demand, food prices in the region and on the world market. The goal is to take proactive and flexible measures to regulate the business, import and export activities of rice, improving the overall export efficiency.

The MOIT will assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with relevant agencies in strengthening traditional and key markets, making the most of signed free trade agreements to increase export value; coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MARD to actively negotiate in order to diversify export markets; take advantage of opportunities to dominate new and potential markets to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s rice industry; timely coordinate with relevant agencies to support and remove difficulties in importing inputs to ensure best conditions in agroproduction.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities under Central direct specialized agencies to closely monitor the fields; be proactive and flexible in the management of rice production to meet and exceed the planned productivity and output targets while also strictly complying with technical and food safety regulations of Vietnam and other importing countries.

Local agencies create all favorable conditions for farmers and businesses in the area to facilitate rice production and trading; actively coordinate with relevant agencies or report to competent authorities to immediately remove difficulties and obstacles to ensure smooth production, circulation and export of rice; actively grasp new information of the rice export scene, promptly respond to situations arising in localities to promote rice production and export.

The Vietnam Food Association proactively grasps information about the world rice market, the needs and capacity of rice importers and exporters to promptly inform relevant state management agencies and the rice production - trading community in Vietnam; actively participates in and organize trade promotion activities for the rice industry, especially for international markets to boost export activities, increase turnover and improve the competitive advantage of Vietnam’s rice industry.