Container trucks carry export good at Binh Hiep International Port in Long An Province.

Directive No. 26/CT-TTg said the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has developed and spread quickly, seriously affecting production, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products, especially in localities where social distancing is being applied.

In order to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, restore production, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and people's committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to focus on implementing some urgent tasks.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for directing localities to deploy solutions to ensure that the agricultural production chain is not interrupted; at the same time, review and fully prepare conditions for the production of the next crop.

The ministry will direct localities to promote the development of production, consumption and export of agricultural products to regions that have controlled the COVID-19 pandemic to support and make up for the shortfall of other localities, especially southern provinces and cities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade in promoting the opening of official export markets for agricultural products to China (durian, sweet potato, passion fruit, custard apple, pomelo, aquatic products); urgently negotiate with relevant Chinese authorities to reduce the rate of animal and plant quarantine entering the Chinese market.

The Ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government and the Prime Minister policies to support plant varieties, livestock and aquatic products for farmers to restore production in localities that implemented social distancing according to Directive 16.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for guiding localities that have controlled the pandemic to reopen traditional markets and wholesale markets to promptly supply goods to people; at the same time, coordinate with the Ministry of Health in promulgating regulations to ensure pandemic prevention and control.

At the same time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade should actively discuss with Chinese agencies and localities about opening more border gates and clearing customs for agricultural exports, especially vegetables and fruits; encourage official exports through international border gates and main border gates; and support traders to promote the consumption of agricultural products through e-commerce channels.

The Ministry of Transport will direct relevant agencies to ensure smooth transportation across the country, creating the most favourable conditions for the transportation of agricultural products and inputs for agricultural production. The ministry will review and request the annulment of local documents that are contrary to the regulations of the Government and the Prime Minister on facilitating goods circulation.

The Ministry of Transport will assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in handling the shortage of containers and implementing solutions to reduce freight rates for export and import.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health to coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in directing specialised agencies to inspect, supervise, guide and support the implementation of pandemic prevention and control at production facilities. The health ministry will have to guide and uniformly monitor localities to use the results and effective time of two COVID-19 testing methods (quick test and PCR).

The State Bank of Viet Nam is in charge of directing credit institutions to continue concentrating capital sources to meet needs for production, processing, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products; quickly and effectively implement credit policies and programmes in the fields of agriculture.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs Vietnamese representative missions abroad to update information on production, markets, import demand of the host country, opportunities to promote cooperation, and risks from trade barriers for Vietnamese agricultural products.

The ministry will also continue to comprehensively promote vaccine diplomacy.

People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities promptly and effectively implement the Government's resolution on supporting enterprises, cooperatives and business households in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along with that, localities should actively develop plans for the production, consumption and export of agricultural products and ensure the stability of people's lives. Localities should also implement policies to support vehicle owners and drivers by reducing costs of transportation, consumption of agricultural products and circulation of agricultural material; prioritise vaccination for those working in harvesting, processing, circulating and exporting agricultural products.

Localities with border gates are asked to actively support businesses to remove difficulties in warehousing, storage of agricultural products, transportation services, and commercial logistics at the border gates; ensure customs clearance of agricultural products in all situations.

Source: VNS