During the past 30 years of renovation, Vietnam has witnessed strong growth in the country’s agricultural sector, especially in terms of rice exports. However, Vietnamese ricelacks a particularly good reputation in the global rice market.
Nguyen Tri Ngoc, Former Head, Cultivation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said: Vietnam has now been one of important rice exporters in the world. However, rice exportefficiency remains low. This partially explains why farmers are discouraged from producing more. Vietnam’s agriculture hasn’t grown sustainably.
Vietnam is negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and has concluded a trade agreement with the European Union. In order to reach quality-conscious markets such as the US, Japan, or EU, Vietnam has to be further aware to secure its rice competitiveness. In May 2015, the government approved a scheme to promote Vietnamese rice’s branding with a vision to 2030.
PhD. Ha Van Nhan, Director, Conventional Rice Research and Development Centre Field Crop Research Institute said: Firstly, we have to promote research activity to create high-quality rice varieties. They should be healthy, and free of pesticides or heavy metals. Secondly, farmers should be encouraged to engage in clean production requirements. In addition to developing large-scale cultivation and 100% mechanised rice production.
"The idea of a supply chain will also contribute to the promotion. The chain will connect the producer, processor, and consumer. They can trace back the product’s place of origin or growing process while farmers are able to know consumer tastes so they can respond to the market. Not to mention the chain has to follow a standard requirement of quality," said Phd. Dang Kim Son, Former Head, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture & Rural Development
According to experts, in the context of global competitiveness, Vietnamese agriculture has to focus on improved understanding of the production and management process. In addition trade mark promotion is another measure to advance the position of Vietnameserice in the international market./.
