Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)Minister Cuong, who attended theWorld Economic Forum (WEF) 2017 in Davos, Switzerland, noted that Vietnam hasenjoyed close ties with the WEF in many areas, including the New Vision forAgriculture initiative.
Since 2010, the country hasencouraged the involvement of the State and private sector in the initiativethrough the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under the Partnership forSustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV), aiming towards the sustainablegrowth of Vietnam’s agriculture.
Major objectives of the PSAVinclude enhancing sustainable agriculture standards, building policies andagricultural cultivation methods in Vietnam and strengthening links between theMARD and partners, including State agencies, international and non-governmentalorganisations, sponsors, research institutes and businesses.
It also aims for sustainabledevelopment management on the basis of science and consensus of partners, hesaid.
The MARD leader said that so far,Vietnam has launched eight PPP working groups for coffee, tea, vegetable,seafood, goods, peppercorn, chemicals and agricultural finance.
About 10,000 Vietnamese farmers areinvolved in technical models with the application of sustainable standards withthe support of multinational groups such as Unilever, Nestle, Metro Cash andCarry, Syngenta, Cargill, Bunge and Pepsico. The models meet economic-social–environmentcriteria included in 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
The MARD plans to strengthen PSAVactivities through setting up information systems and increasing dialogue amongthe MARD, foreign firms, domestic businesses, and the agricultural tradesector, said Cuong.
Additional PPP working groupswill be formed for some trades, he said, adding that the ministry will alsofocus on re-organising major management systems for farm produce, with the engagementof representatives of State management agencies, businesses, productionfacilities and farmers.
Minister Cuong said that theministry has proposed that the WEF support Vietnam in multiplying the PSAVmodel for 10 major agricultural products of Vietnam, aiming to expand the modelto provincial and local products.
Vietnam also asked for assistancein encouraging the private sector to build investment and business planssuitable to agricultural restructuring, he said, adding that Vietnam also hopesto create connectivity between foreign and domestic firms.
More attention will also be paidto supporting organisations, including the Farmers’ Association andcooperatives in expanding successful models, thus increasing income forfarmers.-VNA
VNA
