August 31, 2011

Vietnam, Myanmar collaborate in agriculture, forestry and fishery

Vietnam has brought up numerous proposals with Myanmar on collaboration in agriculture, forestry and fishery between 2011 and 2020.

According to the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the two sides will increase exchange of experts in aquaculture, rice cultivation, irrigation and livestock feed production, as well as agricultural technologies.

Vietnam especially desires to exchange good varieties of livestock with Myanmar to breed them nationwide, the department said.

In implementing the memorandum of understanding on fisheries cooperation inked by the two countries in April, 2010, Myanmar pledged to create more favourable legal conditions for Vietnamese businesses to implement projects in aquaculture and aquatic product processing in the country.

Vietnam is also stepping up negotiations with Myanmar on a cooperative agreement on planting rubber trees and other industrial crops on an area of 200,000 hectares.

The department said the agroforestry and fisheries cooperation between Vietnam and Myanmar for 2006-10 was limited to regional channels and the exchange of experts.

With rich natural resources, Myanmar, the second largest country in Southeast Asia, is seen as a country holding significant development potential. It is likely to be Vietnam's major competitor in agricultural exports.

Myanmar's agricultural sector now makes up 44% of GDP and 20% of export turnover and generates jobs for two thirds of the country's labourers.

The country boasts over 20 million hectares of farm land, more than six million hectares of water surface and a 3,000-kilometre coastline.