November 28, 2006
Vietnam to assist farmers for WTO
Investment in science-technology and personnel training would be the key to sharpen the competitive edge of farming production after Vietnam joins the WTO, said the agriculture minister during the National Assembly deputies session Friday.
According to Than Nien daily, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said his ministry gave top priority to the application of biotechnology in agriculture, especially the research on high-yield and high-quality plants and animals.
The ministry would also focus on helping farmers improve their skills and pushing up investment in agricultural and rural infrastructure as well as commercial facilities to serve the circulation of agro-forestry-fisheries products.
Phat also promised to build a complete legal framework to encourage farmers and enterprises to pour more investment into production and business.
Also at the session, the minister presented reports on measures to prevent plant and animal diseases; protect and develop forests; build and manage irrigation systems; ensure food hygiene; and develop agricultural and rural cooperatives.
Several dignitaries have expressed resolutions in boosting Vietnam's agricultural competitiveness in a liberalised trade.
Deputy Minister of agriculture Bui Ba Bong said Vietnam's competitiveness for a liberalised trade lies in technology transfer, education, infrastructure and other technological support.
Tran Van Thinh, a former European Commission ambassador to the WTO, recently stated that farmers needed to be respected and also needed information and knowledge.
Thinh said the Government should provide information on science and technology and business to farmers who account for 70 per cent of Vietnam's 83 million population.
He also said the Government should ensure that farmers do not give up on their crop and fish farms and migrate to urban areas to join the food processing industry, the most lucrative field of agriculture.
