Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phatdefended his running of the ministry during question-answer NationalAssembly hearing in Hanoi on November 20.
In reply todeputies’ concerns about Vietnam’s import of low-quality cashew nuts inservice of export, Minister Phat affirmed that growing cashew trees is acentral task of the sector.
He blamed low productivity andunstable earnings for the decision by many farmers to chop down cashewtrees and cultivate other crops instead.
Given this worryingsituation, the ministry has focused on creating high-yield and qualitycashew varieties, building cashew production centres and implementingagricultural encouragement projects, he said.
Regarding theagricultural sector’s responsibilities in creating high-yield ricevarieties, he said the ministry has implemented research programmes onrice varieties, focusing on those with high, sustainable and stablevalues.
The minister also tackled questions on theinefficient export of crude agricultural produce, describing this as amajor problem faced by the sector and a central component of thecountry’s agricultural restructuring.
During the session,Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Van Binh presentedseveral incentives offered by banks in support of the agriculturalsector.
Binh said the banking system has overhauled itspolicies towards agriculture, farmers and rural areas, reasoning thatVietnam needs more appropriate mechanisms to thrive in the new period.
Answering NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s question on ricestockpiles, the Governor said the SBV has provided adequate capital forthe work in a timely manner.
Apart from rice, other keyproducts such as tra and basa fish and coffee have also receivedfinancial support from the bank, he added.
Binh said,however, that problems lie with coffee varieties and so the bank haspartnered with MARD and localities to select the most appropriate beansto cultivate.
Concluding Minister Phat’s hearing, ChairmanHung said that the queries put to him show the deep attention being paidto agriculture, farmers and rural areas.
He suggested thatMinister Phat coordinate with relevant ministries and branches toimplement more fundamental solutions for the issues, facilitating thedevelopment of agriculture, farmers and rural areas.
Thechief legislator tasked the agricultural sector with regaining its GDPgrowth rate and accelerating the building of new-style rural areas. Healso asked the sector to spur agricultural restructuring in acomprehensive manner and report the progress to lawmakers.
It is a must for the sector to proritise the management of agricultural materials, he noted.
After Minister Phat, Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thai Binhwill answer questions on matters under his charge at the next NAhearing.-VNA
In reply todeputies’ concerns about Vietnam’s import of low-quality cashew nuts inservice of export, Minister Phat affirmed that growing cashew trees is acentral task of the sector.
He blamed low productivity andunstable earnings for the decision by many farmers to chop down cashewtrees and cultivate other crops instead.
Given this worryingsituation, the ministry has focused on creating high-yield and qualitycashew varieties, building cashew production centres and implementingagricultural encouragement projects, he said.
Regarding theagricultural sector’s responsibilities in creating high-yield ricevarieties, he said the ministry has implemented research programmes onrice varieties, focusing on those with high, sustainable and stablevalues.
The minister also tackled questions on theinefficient export of crude agricultural produce, describing this as amajor problem faced by the sector and a central component of thecountry’s agricultural restructuring.
During the session,Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Van Binh presentedseveral incentives offered by banks in support of the agriculturalsector.
Binh said the banking system has overhauled itspolicies towards agriculture, farmers and rural areas, reasoning thatVietnam needs more appropriate mechanisms to thrive in the new period.
Answering NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s question on ricestockpiles, the Governor said the SBV has provided adequate capital forthe work in a timely manner.
Apart from rice, other keyproducts such as tra and basa fish and coffee have also receivedfinancial support from the bank, he added.
Binh said,however, that problems lie with coffee varieties and so the bank haspartnered with MARD and localities to select the most appropriate beansto cultivate.
Concluding Minister Phat’s hearing, ChairmanHung said that the queries put to him show the deep attention being paidto agriculture, farmers and rural areas.
He suggested thatMinister Phat coordinate with relevant ministries and branches toimplement more fundamental solutions for the issues, facilitating thedevelopment of agriculture, farmers and rural areas.
Thechief legislator tasked the agricultural sector with regaining its GDPgrowth rate and accelerating the building of new-style rural areas. Healso asked the sector to spur agricultural restructuring in acomprehensive manner and report the progress to lawmakers.
It is a must for the sector to proritise the management of agricultural materials, he noted.
After Minister Phat, Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thai Binhwill answer questions on matters under his charge at the next NAhearing.-VNA
