Rice bags are loaded onto a vessel for export at Cua Lo Port in the central province of Nghe An (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc has approved the resumption of rice export provided that food security must be guaranteed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and saltwater intrusion.
Basing on the opinions raised at the Government’smeeting on March 31, the PM agreed in principle on the rice export plan forApril proposed by the Minister of Industry and Trade.
He assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agricultural andRural Development and relevant agencies to carry out this plan and ensure thatthe export will not affect the national food security.
He told them not to let rice shortages happen in anycircumstance, especially in the context of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, while minimisingdisruptions to the rice production chain and protecting the legitimateinterests of farmers and related businesses.
The PM ordered the MoIT to work with the relevantministries to report on the rice export in April and propose the export planfor May to him before April 25. Additionally, they also have to build plans forsteering the domestic rice market and export in case the COVID-19 pandemiclingers on, even until the end of 2020.
In its report submitted to the PM on April 6, the MoITproposed rice export continue but the shipment volume be strictly controlled byeach month, firstly April and May.
The ministry suggested that about 800,000 tonnes ofrice should be allowed to be shipped abroad in April and May, down 40 percentfrom the same period last year. It proposed 400,000 tonnes of rice for exportthis month.
In the last week of April, basing on the pandemic’sdevelopments and reports by ministries and sectors, the PM will decide the shipments for May./.
VNA
