(VOVworld) - Agriculture is not only the backbone of Vietnam’s economy, but also a driving force for post- economic restructuring growth. To ensure national food security, it’s essential for Vietnam to develop a master-plan and protect the farm land. Besides, the sector should boost links among producers and market expansion while increasing investment in science and technology to improve farmers’ income and protect the ecological environment. VOV talks to Doctor Dang Kim Son, Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, about the issue.
To ensure national food security, rice is still considered a main crop which needs to be restructured to assure the sector’s growth. How do you think of the issue?
We should look at two aspects in the agricultural sector’s future growth. First, in the near future, cattle-feed will make more contributions than food. As the result, crop restructuring with a focus on feed for cattle and aquaculture will be a must. Second, balancing supply and demand doesn’t mean to ensure national food security. The most important point here is whether or not people have enough money to buy different kinds of food or know how to use food in the most effective and nutritional way. I want to say that food security should be closely linked to people’s income and improvement of living conditions for both producers and consumers.
The Mekong River Delta is maintaining a large area rice cultivation. What should be done for crop restructuring?
I think rice cultivation should be reconsidered. The Mekong River Delta has various crops, so apart from rice cultivation, we can grow other kinds of farm produce as cattle-feed or food for aquaculture. This way will help increase farmers’ income and cut the region’s redundant rice supply. As a rice bowl of the world with most comparative advantages, Vietnam should change the current production method into a more modern, more effective, and more environmentally-friendly agricultural industry. In brief, diversification and raising added-values for rice products will be the future direction for the Mekong River Delta.
What should the sector do to deal with pending issues towards creating breakthroughs in science and technology application and market expansion for agricultural produce?
I think the agricultural sector should pay more attention to the three most important phases: institutionalization, science-technology, and market access. Currently, we’ve only taken much interest in production instead of market development. It will be a great challenge for Vietnam to find ways to link both domestic and foreign markets and put more added-value products to new markets. To handle the situation, first we should involve enterprises in the move. Second, science and technology should be applied to increase productivity and efficiency. Third which is also the most difficult task is to change the way of thinking in organizational institution. It means production should be done on a larger scale while farmers should associate with each other to set up cooperatives. Cooperatives should closely coordinate with enterprises and businesses themselves should also work together to establish strong professional associations. State management should target the development of strategies and control of standards and food hygiene and safety instead of directly managing projects or giving technical instruction.
Thank you for granting VOV this interview. That was Doctor Dang Kim Son, Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development.