"It’s necessary to create a value chain with businesses playing a leading role. Farmers alone can’t get access to the markets while enterprises have advantages in capital mobilization and advanced technologies, two important factors in reaching potential markets," said Luu Duc Khai of the Central Institute for Economic Management. 

"Other important tasks of businesses include managing production and enhancing connectivity with farmers to share with them both interests and risks for a win-win and sustainable development," he added.  

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam has shipped more than 860,000 tonnes of rice abroad in the first two months of the year, up 17% from the same period last year. The export price of Vietnamese rice rose from 450 USD per tonne in 2017 to 475 USD per tonne during the January-February period.