VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam government on November 27 gave its full backing to a proposed the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) technical assistance package, which in essence establishes the nation’s first international agricultural research centre.

The centre has the aim of achieving sustainable rice production through the installation of advance technologies and serve as the foundation for further enhancing Vietnam’s global leadership role in rice production.

During a technical workshop on November 26-27, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) officials and partners met to discuss the IRRI proposed technical assistance package.

Other issues discussed at the workshop included – branding of Vietnamese rice, measures to reduce pre and postharvest losses, climate change adaptation and low carbon emission measures to further enhance the rice sector.

On November 27, MARD Minister Cao Duc Phat and IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler signed the agreement targeting a more robust international exchange among Vietnamese and IRRI scientists and experts.

The agreement in essence makes IRRI the first international agricultural research centre to be officially recognized as an international organization by the Government of Vietnam and should allow for refinement and much improved implementation of Vietnam's rice sector strategy.

At the signing ceremony, Minister Phat extended thanks to IRRI experts for their active support in restructuring the rice industry in recent times and urged Vietnam’s rice sector to make enormous changes to increase income and generate jobs for farmers in a sustainable manner.

VOV/VNN