IRRI and Vietnam partnership to boost country's rice sector

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; http://irri.org) put their full weight behind a national strategy designed to make rice production an even larger engine of inclusive economic growth. Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat and Vice Minister Le Quoc Doanh convened a multi-stakeholder effort to refine key elements of the strategy, which includes developing rice varieties with high export value, adopting advanced crop management techniques, and more intensive use of machines and other technologies in rice farming. Together with the top leadership of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and other public and private sector partners, MARD seeks the rapid and sustained growth of the agriculture sector, especially the rice subsector in which Vietnam is already a global leader. The rice industry serves as the foundation of Vietnam's inclusive development success story. This week’s collaborative effort advances, in the country's rice sector, the June 2013 Vietnam government decision QD-889, or Approving the Project on Agricultural Restructuring Toward Raising Added Values and Sustainable Development. In response to this decision and to MARD priorities, IRRI has offered support to Vietnam-led rice sectorimprovement efforts in key areas. During a technical workshop on Wednesday, 26 November, MARD officials and partners discussed IRRI’s proposed technical assistance package. Co-chaired by MARD Vice Minister Le Quoc Doanh and IRRI Deputy Director General V. Bruce J. Tolentino, topics included high-quality rice varieties and commercial production of specialty rice for domestic and export markets; branding of Vietnamese rice; reduced pre- and postharvest losses; climate change adaptation and low carbon emission measures in rice production; support for small farmers; and policy advice to further enhance the country's formidable rice sector. Read more: http://irri.org/news/media-releases/vietnam-and-irri-jointly-craft-strategy-to-boost-country-s-rice-industry