VietNamNet Bridge - "Whenever farmers have a good crop, the prices for agricultural produces fall. Profit for farmers is little and it is big for others. This is a big issue that makes us think a lot," said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development -- Cao Duc Phat, at the National Assembly session that closed last week.

Minister Cao Duc Phat.

According to NA Deputy Y Thong of Phu Yen Province, agricultural production currently faces difficulties. Farmers have to sell their products at low prices. Earnings from agricultural produces is not enough to offset production costs, especially rice and livestock products. However, consumers have to buy these products at high prices.

Y Thong raised a question for Minister Phat: "As the state management agency in this field, do you see any interest group controlling this area? Do you have any solution to help farmers deal with difficulties in agricultural production?"

The Agriculture Minister said, hearing information about the group interest, he instructed relevant bodies to check and have preventive measures. However, he said, there has had no basis for determining the presence of interest groups in the field of agriculture.

He said: "Whenever farmers have a good crop, the prices for agricultural produces fall. Profit for farmers is little and it is big for others. This is a big issue that makes us think a lot."

The Minister also mentioned a number of measures such as guiding farmers to focus on production of crops and livestock in the great market demands, strengthening market management to not allow organizations with advantages in the market to “bully” farmers.

Answering the question from deputy Nguyen Thi Kim Be on what benefits that farmers earn from the rice stockpiling policy of the Government, Minister Phap said this is a situation measure. When the market is better, temporary storage of rice is no longer necessary.

Deputy Nguyen Van Rinh of Hai Duong province said that the local media recently reported of the use of expired vaccine and even injecting vaccine with a little volume for kids. He doubted the use of vaccine in animal husbandry and asked the Minister of Agriculture about the measure to ensure the quality of vaccine.

"We have not found any case of taking rake-off on vaccines, perhaps because the value of livestock vaccine is very low," Minister Phat said.

However, he also confirmed to verify the information that in some places, some officers did not give injections, but they declared injections to appropriate vaccines to sell for profit.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the Ministry of Agriculture still lacks strong sanctions against dishonest agricultural traders. He urged to industrialize agriculture and apply science and technology in agriculture and build brands for Vietnamese agricultural products to increased exports and stabilize macro economy.

In addition to developing sustainable agriculture, the NA Chairman also emphasized forest protection and afforestation.

Ta Lam