The Directive of the Prime Minister on promoting sustainable, transparent and effective rice production, business and export in the new situation

On 02/3/2024, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 10/CT-TTg on promoting sustainable, transparent and effective rice production, business and export in the new situation.

According to the Directive, in the first months of 2024, complicated developments in the world and regional rice markets have affected the psychology of some businesses and farmers. According to the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and a number of related agencies, the rice export situation is still favorable, the rice demand of countries in the region and the world remains high due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon and armed conflict. However, currently, in the Mekong Delta provinces, the Winter-Spring rice crop is being harvested, there is a phenomenon of businesses waiting for rice prices to drop while people want to sell rice at high prices like those in the last months of 2023; If this situation lasts, it will cause businesses to lose opportunities to export rice and affect the production and income of rice growers.

To ensure healthy, transparent rice production, business and export activities, flexible and timely response in volatile market situations, aiming to develop a sustainable and effective rice industry and increase income for rice growers, the Prime Minister requested Ministers, Heads of relevant ministries and agencies, Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, and President of the Vietnam Food Association, Chairman, General Director of Northern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD I), Southern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD II) and rice export traders to continue to strictly implement the Directive No. 24/CT-TTg dated August 5, 2023 of the Prime Minister, at the same time, focus on directing and drastically implementing the following specific tasks:

* Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

- To direct localities in the Mekong Delta to organize winter-spring rice harvest on time, minimize post-harvest losses; promptly direct the organization of production for the Summer-Autumn crop; preside and coordinate with localities and industry associations to closely monitor the situation and promptly provide complete and accurate information on rice market developments so that people and businesses can make appropriate production and business plans, ensure the supply for domestic consumption and export, and stabilize market prices.

- To focus on directing the effective implementation of the Project "Sustainable development of one-million-hectare region specializing in high-quality rice cultivation and low emissions close to green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030".

- To direct the acceleration of building and replicating products consumption chain models to ensure the harmony of benefits between people and businesses; coordinate with Ministers and Heads of relevant ministries and branches to direct, guide and urge localities to effectively implement Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 of the 13^th Party Central Executive Committee on continuing innovation, development and improving collective economic efficiency in the new period; Decision No. 1804/QD-TTg dated November 13, 2020 of the Prime Minister on the Program to support collective and cooperative economic development for the period 2021-2025.

- To preside and coordinate with the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance to implement solutions to improve the capacity of agricultural cooperatives in organizing production, providing input services, and consuming paddy, rice; promote training to equip farmers with knowledge about markets, agricultural business, change thinking, and apply scientific advances in agricultural production, processing, and business; complete the system of legal documents on quality management of input materials for rice production, especially seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and equipment.

- To coordinate with ministries, branches, localities, and associations to seriously and effectively deploy the Official Letter No. 13/CD-TTg dated February 6, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening logistics connections to promote consumption and export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

- To coordinate with the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association to regularly closely monitor the world and regional rice market developments; beef up negotiations and remove technical barriers to expand Vietnam's rice export market.

* Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities

- To drastically direct the effective implementation of the Project "Sustainable development of one-million-hectare regional specializing in high-quality rice cultivation and low emissions close to green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030"; organize rice production in each season; direct local authorities to monitor and capture information and developments in the rice purchasing situation in the area to promptly make appropriate solutions and provide them to relevant ministries and branches, serve the management of rice production and export of the whole country.

- To integrate programs, projects and mobilize other legal resources to effectively organize and deploy chain models of rice product consumption in the area; organize propaganda, training, and implement solutions to diversify the supply of input materials for production.

- To organize regular and periodic updates and dissemination of market information so that farmers and businesses can properly assess the situation and market developments and make decisions while ensuring production and business efficiency and national interests.

* President of the Vietnam Food Association, Chairman, General Director of Northern Food Corporation, the Southern Food Corporation and rice export traders

- The President of the Vietnam Food Association strengthens monitoring, updating, forecasting, and providing information and developments on the world and domestic rice production and markets to relevant ministries and branches, enterprises; encourage businesses belonging to the Association to actively participate in implementing the Project "Sustainable development of one-million-hectare region specializing in high-quality rice cultivation and low emissions close to green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030 ” and the chain models linking production and consumption of products.

- Chairman, General Director of the Northern Food Corporation, the Southern Food Corporation and rice export traders: (i) seriously conduct the regime of periodic, irregular reports, storage and circulation according to the provisions of Decree No. 107/2018/ND-CP; (ii) have solutions to boost the development of production links, build raw material areas and deploy traceability solutions; proactively monitor the global rice trade situation, moves of exporting countries, consumption needs of importing countries, consider business plans to ensure harmony between national interests, businesses and manufacturers; (iii) develop specific plans to gradually improve production and business capacity; build and train a team of officials and employees performing import-export operations, market work, and marketing in a professional manner; focus on training and fostering to improve skills in capturing and exploiting market information, negotiating, signing contracts, and handling commercial disputes. To actively participate in the Project "Sustainable development of one-million-hectare region specializing in high-quality rice cultivation with low emissions close to green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030" and the chain models linking production and consumption of products.

In addition, the Directive also assigns specific tasks to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Minister of Finance, and Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam in promoting sustainable, transparent and effective production, business and export of rice in the new situation.