Sri Lanka wants Vietnam to support urea fertilizer for the main rice crop

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, Mr. K.D. Lalkantha, expressed his deep appreciation for the relationship between the two countries and highly valued Vietnam’s impressive economic development in recent years, considering Vietnam a model for Sri Lanka to learn from.

Minister Lalkantha affirmed that there are no obstacles to expanding agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. He also noted that food security and food safety are urgent issues for the Sri Lankan government.

During the meeting, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam highlighted the vast potential and opportunities for cooperation, reaffirming Vietnam’s readiness to share its experience with Sri Lanka in post-harvest processing and agricultural product quality improvement for export. The ambassador also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s strengths in tea and coconut cultivation and processing, which Vietnam hopes to learn from.

The ambassador suggested that Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation expedite the implementation of the 2024-2026 Agricultural Cooperation Plan, which was signed during Minister Le Minh Hoan’s visit to Sri Lanka. She also proposed exploring the possibility of trilateral cooperation between Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and a more technologically advanced country within or outside the region to leverage technology and share expertise in agricultural production, processing, and livestock farming.

Additionally, in February, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on South-South cooperation. This agreement reflects Vietnam’s willingness to share its experiences and collaborate with other countries in agricultural and rural development through South-South and trilateral cooperation programs, with support from bilateral and multilateral international partners.

Minister Lalkantha also urged Vietnam to continue expanding market linkages for agricultural products and promote the exchange of crop and livestock varieties between the two countries. He emphasized the need for Vietnam’s support in reducing production costs for key crops such as maize and onions, which currently have high import costs in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the minister expressed his desire for Vietnam’s assistance in supplying urea fertilizer to prepare for Sri Lanka’s main rice planting season in March.

Minister Lalkantha appreciated the ambassador’s proposals and welcomed further discussions with relevant stakeholders. He reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and supporting initiatives proposed by the Vietnamese Embassy.

The ambassador also expressed hope for guidance from the ministry on facilitating Vietnamese citizens living in Sri Lanka to engage in agricultural activities, including establishing livestock and crop farms.