National Assembly (NA) deputies asked many tough questions regarding perennial problems in the agricultural sector for Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat at the legislature’s ask-and-answer session in Hanoi on Thursday.  

Deputy Nguyen Van Tuyet of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province stressed the importance of combining efforts of Government agencies, scientists, farmers and businesses to ensure sustainable development of the sector. However, this goal has not has not been realized and farmers are still grappling with many challenges in selling their products though the Prime Minister issued a relevant decision more than 10 years ago.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Kim Be of Kien Giang Province shared Tuyet’s view, saying that farmers in the Mekong Delta have suffered losses from sweet potato, shrimp ad tra fish farming. She attributed these losses partly to the inefficient implementation of Decision 80/2002/QD-TTg.

Minister Phat admitted the reality, saying the ministry last year deployed a program to cement cooperation among Government agencies, scientists, farmers and businesses for rice production and more than 100 enterprises pledged to help farmers with farming support and consumption of rice farmed on over 72,000 hectares. But only 45,000 hectares of it came to fruition.

Phat explained not many enterprises wanted to invest in agriculture due to their limited capabilities in terms of finance and human resources to carry out projects in this field. Moreover, enterprises found it hard to partner with tens of thousands of farming households.

Phat also blamed local authorities for the failure. Localities should have established steering committees to promote the cooperation and set out criteria for large-scale paddy fields, but only 10 provinces have completed these tasks.

Deputy Do Van Duong of HCMC asked the minister why agriculture has attracted less domestic and foreign investors than other sectors and about measures to mobilize investments from overseas markets except China to develop a strong agricultural sector.

Phat said enterprises were hesitant to invest in agriculture as they were unable to find sufficient land for their projects. Land for agriculture is very limited as agricultural land has been allocated to 10 million farming households nationwide. Underdeveloped infrastructure and weak management of diseases are also to blame.
Phat said the ministry would draw up a proper policy for enterprises to lease farming land from households to implement their projects. He noted the Government issued Decision 62/2013/QD-TTg with many incentives to replace Decision 80 to enhance cooperation among scientists, farmers and businesses.

Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam of HCMC asked Phat to name the weaknesses of agricultural production and their impact on the development of this sector. She asked the minister to be responsible for the lower-than-expected performance of the sector.

However, Phat did not mention his responsibility but said his biggest worry is about the consumption market for farm products and the weak processing industry.

“Farmers are good at agricultural production but weak processing has forced them to sell unprocessed products. Enterprises play an important role in consuming and processing products for farmers,” Phat said.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group and TH True Milk have invested big in agriculture. Phat promised there would be more supporting policies to attract more corporations to this sector.

Phat said the ministry is looking for quality breeders and technology to import to help improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in general and livestock in particular.

Tam pointed out breeders and producers had remained weak but these woes have not been solved over the years. She wanted the minister to clarify his responsibility.

NA chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said Tam’s questions were tough but insisted the minister further field them.

Phat acknowledged that his instructions and actions had not been strong enough to create breakthroughs in the agricultural sector. “We have tried but the results have not met expectations,” he said.

Deputy Duong of HCMC commented Phat’s answers just beat around the bush. He urged the minister to reply to NA deputies’ queries about 14 types of quarantine fees on a chicken.

Phat said he knew the quarantine fees were unveiled by food processing firm Vissan after he worked with the NA delegation of HCMC deputies.  The Veterinary Department was told to check the fees and later reported that there are many types of fees collected in line with the exisiting regulations.

Phat said the ministry has written to the Ministry of Finance asking for adjusting the circular on veterinary charges to streamline procedures and reduce fees.

NA chairman Hung asked who issued the circular and demand abolishing it if it is against law.
Phat called for the Ministry of Finance to cancel the circular.