PM commits to removing agricultural institution hindrances

PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the video-teleconference on the implementation of the plan and orientations for 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Noi, December 26, 2016 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

PM Phuc made the point on December 26 in Ha Noi at a video-teleconference on the implementation of the plan and orientations for 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Three biggest bright points

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong announced that the three biggest positive achievements, namely growth pace after six months of minus growth rate (at 1.2%); record export (US$ 32.1 billion, up 6% against 2015); development in food hygiene.

In 2017, the Ministry targets to gain 2.5-2.8% of growth pace and earn around US$ 32-32.5 billion of export turnover.

The Ministry also selected 2017 as a rush year for management of agricultural materials and agro-forestry-fishery food hygiene.

Grateful for hard-working peasants

Addressing the event, PM Phuc said that in 2016, serious natural disasters cost US$ 1.7 billion, accounting for around 1% of GDP. Especially, the serious flood in the nine Central and Central Highlands provinces caused economic damage of around VND 4 trillion.

Despite the most serious natural disasters over the last ten years, the agricultural sector continued to serve as a pillar in the economy and contributed remarkably to social security.

The PM attributed the achievements to great effort of the agricultural sector and hard-working peasants.

PM Phuc noted the importance of promptly surmounting natural disaster consequences, especially essential and important infrastructure projects and take care of people in flood-hit areas in the Lunar New Year Festival.

He called on the agricultural sector to beef up the restructuring and rearrangement of production in appropriate manner; boost manufacturing technology and raising value; push up the building of new rural areas and technological applications.

Removing agricultural institution hindrances

PM Phuc assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to work with the MARD to work on policies to develop the market for agricultural land use rights and propose amendments to the Law on Land in favor of large-scale agricultural production.

The State Bank of Viet Nam was assigned to research and supplement policies which enable credit institutions to develop agricultural lending.

The Government chief also agreed on amendments of Resolution 210/2013/ND-CP dated December 19, 2013 on incentive policies for enterprises investing in agriculture and rural areas.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the MARD were requested to add more capital for the agricultural sector in the medium-term public investment plan.