Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong answers deputies’ questions at the Q&A session on November 6, 2019. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Answering a question raised by deputy Pham Thi Thu Trang of Quang Ngai province, Minister Cuong said that last year the government promulgated a decree encouraging enterprises to invest in agriculture, farmers, and rural areas.

He said the Ministry will continue to advise the government and the National Assembly to adopt new policies and a new law on public-private partnership (PPP) to lure more investment to agriculture.

Mr. Cuong said: “Vietnam considers businesses and cooperatives key factors in developing production connectivity. Over the past 3 years, the number of enterprises directly investing in agriculture has increased from 3,000 companies to nearly 12,000. Most domestic corporations like TH True Milk, Vinamilk, and FLC have played a key role in using high-tech to boost national agriculture.”

Minister Cuong said the national target program on new-style rural area building has gained breakthroughs since it was launched a decade ago. All institutions and infrastructure facilities have been improved; all communes have been connected to the national electricity grid; 99% of hamlets now have power.

But problems remain. First, although the living standard in rural areas has increased 350%, people’s aspirations haven’t been fully met. Second, environmental criteria haven’t been met. Finally, major production zones and production chains haven’t been established in rural areas.

Mr. Cuong said: “At a meeting to review 10 years of the national target program on new-style rural area building, the Prime Minister asked the agriculture and related sectors to prepare new consultancy plans for 2021 to 2025 to resolve pending issues in the agriculture sector.”

Minister Cuong said 2019 has been a challenging year for Vietnamese agriculture, which has faced natural disasters, epidemic diseases, and pressure of export markets.