(VOVworld) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on Friday to honor 63 outstanding farmers and 80 individuals and collectives who won the 2^nd Golden Rice Award.

The event also honored 100 businesses who have been supporting farmers over the last few years. In his address Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said after 30 years of renewal Vietnam’s agricultural sector has continued to be the economy’s pillar. He urged continued cooperation between farmers, businesses, managers, and scientists to further agricultural and new rural development: “I hope that the honorees will continue contributing to Vietnam’s agricultural development. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should devise more incentives to boost agricultural and new rural development.”