The
first Rice Festival for heightening the values of the age-old rice
civilization and honouring rice growers has been held in the Mekong
delta province of Hau Giang on November 28. In his opening speech, Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that the Rice Festival is
significant in bringing together rice producers, businesses, importers,
distributors, consumers and scientists to seek opportunities for
cooperation and partnership.
Binding
closely with the nation’s history of construction and defence, rice has
by far accounted for 90% of the output of seed crops and created jobs
and incomes for around 80% of Vietnam’s households in rural areas, he said.
Accordingly, rice plays an extreme importance in ensuring the
nation’s food security, PM Dung underscored, hailing Hau Giang Province
for coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors and rice-growing
localities, VINAFOOD II and donors to organize the festival.
The Prime Minister highlighted the fact that rice has brought Vietnam
from a food-shortage country into the world’s second largest rice
exporter which has for 21 years exported more than 70 million tonnes of
rice to earn nearly USD20 billion for the country.
He noted that the Mekong Delta
has held a crucial position in the nation’s rice production industry,
as it churns out more than 50% of the total rice paddy output and 90% of
rice export.
While talking about untapped potential in rice farming and
production, he spoke of difficulties and challenges facing rice farmers
and businesses, including natural calamities and especially climate
change.
To deal with those, the Party, the State, farmers, scientists,
businesses and the entire political system should work together in
developing and carrying out response plans for climate change to
mitigate risks and consequences to rice growers, he said.
The Rice Festival is taking place on the banks of the Xa No Canal, the place where Vietnam sent its first shipments of rice abroad hundreds of years ago.
It sees the participation of over 30 provinces and cities and 300 local and foreign companies engaging in agriculture and rice.