Vietnam’s rice industry is experiencing a golden period, with exports projected to surpass 5 billion USD this year, fueled by robust global demand and stable prices, according to experts.
Agriculture ministers of Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to establish a rice industry alliance between the two countries and upgrade the trade relationship to an investment partnership in the rice industry.
As the world's fifth-largest rice producer, Vietnam has tremendous potential to generate revenue from by-products such as straw, husk and bran, as well as to adopt ecological and circular farming practices, according to industry insiders.
Vietnam's position as the world's third-largest rice exporter presents a significant opportunity for the rice industry to transform itself and emerge as a dominant player in the global market in terms of both quantity and quality.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a Decision on approving a program to develop one million ha of low-emission, high-quality rice in the Mekong Delta through 2030.
High prices of rice sold in the domestic market and for export in the recent past have fueled risks of origin fraud, influencing the prestige of Vietnamese rice in the global market, insiders have warned.
In the first 11 months of this year, Vietnam's rice exports exceeded 5.7 million tonnes, down by 3 percent, but earnings surged by 9.7 percent to nearly 2.83 billion USD over the same period in 2019 thanks to export price increase.
The fourth Vietnam Rice Festival is taking place in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long with a wide range of events designed to promote agro-economy and rice trade in domestic and foreign markets.
The Agriculture Ministry of Indonesia has allocated 20 trillion rupiah (1.45 billion USD) for the development of post-harvest infrastructure which will be managed by four state-owned enterprises in the food sector in order to absorb farmers’ production.