On November 1, the National Assembly continued to discuss the socio-economic situation. Expressing worries about the breakup of planning in agriculture and the complicated procedures burdening enterprises, National Assembly deputies suggested measures to recover the economy.

‘Farm produce rescue campaigns’ must be stopped

Nguyen Tuan Anh, a National Assembly deputy from Binh Phuoc, cited a government report as saying that the agricultural sector continues to develop in 2023 with the growth rate of 3.38 percent, acting as a pillar of the national economy.

However, Anh pointed out that investments in agriculture remain modest. Farmers remain subject to risks when they cannot sell their products, or sell at a loss, and then have to call for ‘rescue’ efforts.

He requested the government and ministries to find effective measures to fix the ‘high yield - low value’ problem and stop the ‘farm produce rescue campaigns’ carried out in recent years.

Warning about the hot development of durian growing areas, Anh said under the crop plantation development plan to 2020, Vietnam would develop 65,000-75,000 hectares of durian, but the current growing area has reached 131,000 hectares. The durian growing area has increased by 24.5 percent per annum, the highest growth rate among major crops.

“Experts have expressed concern about the rapid increase in durian growing areas, stressing that this may damage the crop plantation program and lead to oversupply,” Anh said.

He said that it is necessary to have an open and flexible policies to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas.

Rural areas are where private merchants, who collect farm produce directly from farmers, are controlling prices.

Of the measures put forward by the government, Anh emphasized the necessity to focus on the fields with advantages, potential and added value, ensure food security and step-up farm produce exports.

“As such, we have changed our mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economy, striving for a highly competitive merchandise-producing agriculture. This is a breakthrough in thinking about developing agriculture,” Anh said.

He emphasized the important role of enterprises as companions, leaders, and promoters of agricultural economic activities. Enterprises will contribute to shaping farmers’ thinking.

The government, ministries and branches need to work together to settle difficulties in applying for permission to build works serving hi-tech agricultural production, plantations and husbandry on agricultural land.

He also asked the banking sector to provide preferential loans to fund green agriculture.

“In order to cement a position on the world agricultural map, the agricultural sector needs to soon resolve internal difficulties and challenges. Particularly, I believe that paying attention to the development of agricultural and rural enterprises is the key to success,” he said.

Ta Minh Tam, a National Assembly deputy from Tien Giang, commented that Vietnam still cannot attract high investment in agriculture and rural areas. 

Vietnam targets having 35,000 cooperatives by 2025, of which 3,000 cooperatives would apply high technology in production and consumption of agricultural products, and 35 percent of cooperatives would join forces with enterprises via value chain.

He said that many decrees on attracting investment have been issued, but the effects of the legal documents are still below expectations. Vietnam still cannot persuade enterprises to invest in agriculture, a sector with high potential.

The draft decree to replace the Decree 57/2018, which is being compiled, doesn’t mention groundbreaking solutions. Meanwhile, some policies to support farming has been narrowed.

The deputy from Tien Giang made a series of proposals to the National Assembly and the government, including the proposal on designing and promulgating the policies with strategic breakthroughs to develop infrastructure and build rural areas towards modernity in association with urbanization.

Thu Hang