Meeting seeks to develop Viet Nam’s agriculture amid COVID-19

Harvesting dragon fruits in Binh Thuan. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said apart from the COVID-19 impacts, the agriculture sector and rural residents are also hit by climate change, natural disasters and epidemics.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) worked closely with ministries, agencies, localities and the international community to adopt timely and effective measures.

As a result, the farm produces export was estimated at 37.42 billion USD in 11 months of this year, up 2.4 percent annually.

He called on the domestic agriculture sector to take comprehensive and flexible measures to ensure food security, maintain growth and export, improve livelihoods and income of rural residents, and propel sustainable development, during which international support is needed.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen said her organization is assisting Viet Nam in overcoming disaster and COVID-19 consequences via technological transfer and product quality improvement. She added that UNDP could help Viet Nam’s agriculture mitigate risks via insurance and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and cooperatives.

Participants discussed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, farming households and businesses, the disruption of farm produce supply chain, environmental risks, national and global food security.

They also offered policy recommendations and solutions to the pandemic in the field of agriculture and rural development, debated the building of international cooperation programs to restore farming production and trade, and link up with the global supply chain amid the pandemic.

At the event, the MARD adopted a joint declaration reflecting a commitment to promoting the sustainable development of Viet Nam’s agriculture and rural areas, contributing to fulfilling the Government’s dual goals of fighting the pandemic and developing the economy.

Following the event, the ministry will work with each partner to materialize the joint declaration, Doanh said.

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