The National Assembly questioned Minister Phat on the afternoon of November 23. Phat answered up to 34 questions about investment in agriculture, farmers and the rural area; minimizing impacts of climate change, flood and natural disasters; maintaining 3.8 million hectares of rice field, etc.
“What is the advantage and disadvantage of ensuring food security for the world?” deputy Nguyen Van Tien asked. The question is related to the plan on using land, which includes the goal of maintaining over 3.8 million hectares of rice field. This plan was approved one day ago.
Minister Phat affirmed that Vietnam develops rice production to ensure domestic consumption. Besides, rice is Vietnam’s advantage and the selection of history. Phat said that it is not accidentally that Vietnam becomes the second largest rice exporter in the world though the total rice planting area is not vast.
“Rice is our forte so we have to develop and maintain it for our future generations. We don’t produce a lot of rice to ensure world food security but for ourselves,” Phat stressed. He also noted that Vietnam has other trees of great advantage like rice, for example cashew.
Deputy Nguyen Thi Kha asked how to maintain 3.8 million hectares of rice fields in the current situation, when deforestation, underground water exploitation is rampant and the impact from climate change is serious?
Minister Phat said that this is a great issue that needs comprehensive solutions and appropriate policies in each rice-growing province.
As the issue is related to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Minister Nguyen Minh Quang explained further.
According to Quang, of the 3.8 million hectares of rice fields, around 3.2 million hectares are two-crop land, the remaining area is upland rice field (100,000 hectares) and one-crop fields (500,000 hectares).
Quang said the government will issue policies to encourage farmers to keep rice fields and implement projects to increase the effective use of rice-growing land.
Many deputies also questioned Minister Phat about leasing 300,000 hectares of forest to foreign investors. This was a hot topic at the question and answer session of the 12th National Assembly last year.
Phat said that his Ministry combined with related agencies to inspect forest leasing projects. The Ministry has told local governments to stop leasing forest land to foreign investors. Licenses are revoked from projects that are implemented in sensitive areas, which can affect national defense and security.
According to the Agriculture Minister, all provinces have strictly obeyed the instruction. So far, over 18,000 hectares of forest have been leased to foreign firms but investors have used over 13,000 hectares only.
Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh helped make clear some points about investment in agriculture and agricultural insurance.
Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang joined Minister Phat to answer questions about import of agricultural products, building the distribution system for 11 essential products like rice, salt, fertilizer, animal feed, etc.
National Assembly Chair Nguyen Sinh Hung commented that the question and answer session is “straightforward and serious.” He also emphasized the significance of agriculture-farmer-countryside.
Loan-Chung
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