New Government Directive on promoting production, circulation and export of agricultural products

In the first months of 2021, under the direction and management of the Government, the Prime Minister and all levels and sectors; the production, consumption and export of agricultural products achieved many positive results. However, the fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic has developed complicatedly and spread rapidly, seriously affecting the production, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products, especially in areas applying social distancing measures; many agricultural products are in stock in large quantities, prices have dropped sharply; some production chains have been broken, affecting the supply in the coming time, especially during the Lunar New Year 2022.

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

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directs localities to synchronously deploy solutions to ensure that the agricultural production chain is not disrupted; at the same time, review and fully prepare conditions for the next crop production, especially for agricultural processing and exporting enterprises in provinces implementing social distancing according to Directive 16/CT-TTg, ensuring adequate supply of agricultural products for domestic consumption, processing and export in all situations, especially in the last months of the year and on the occasion of Lunar New Year; effectively organize the linkage of raw material areas with preliminary processing, processing and preservation to increase added value.

In addition, direct localities to promote the development of production, consumption and export of agricultural products to regions and areas that have controlled the Covid-19 epidemic to support and compensate for the shortage for other localities, especially the southern provinces and cities; continue to effectively promote the role of the two Working Groups to direct production, connect supply and consumption of agricultural products in the North and the South.

Many agricultural products in Nghe An have not yet created a high value chain from production, harvesting, processing to consumption. Photo: Archive

At the same time, direct and strengthen supervision of agricultural restructuring according to 3 product axes (national key products, regional specialties, OCOP products) to ensure progress and efficiency; build and deploy circular economic models, digital economy in agriculture; build growing area codes, identification codes for livestock and aquaculture facilities; trace product origin, food safety; strengthen promotion and consumption of agricultural products through trade promotion channels, services, especially e-commerce; direct, organize synchronous, drastic and effective implementation of solutions to prevent and control diseases in livestock, crops and aquatic products.

Preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to promote the opening of the official agricultural export market to China (durian, sweet potato, passion fruit, custard apple, grapefruit, bird's nest, seafood); urgently negotiate and reach an agreement with relevant Chinese agencies to reduce the rate of animal and plant quarantine in the Chinese market; preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to assess the impact, disseminate and guide localities, industry associations and enterprises in implementing and complying with procedures and regulations on quality management of imported agricultural products of the Chinese market in Order 248 and Order 249 effective from January 1, 2022.

Preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government and the Prime Minister policies to support varieties (plants, livestock, aquatic products) for farmers to restore production in localities implementing social distancing according to Directive 16/CT-TTg; coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to study and propose appropriate measures in applying online assessment instead of direct assessment; or extend for a maximum of 6 months expired licenses, certificates, and designation decisions.

Guidance for localities that have controlled the epidemic to reopen traditional markets and wholesale markets

The Ministry of Industry and Trade guides localities that have controlled the epidemic to reopen traditional markets and wholesale markets to promptly supply goods to people; at the same time, coordinate with the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to ensure epidemic prevention; closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to assess the impact, guide localities, industry associations, and enterprises to implement and meet the regulations of the Chinese side in Order 248 and Order 249, effective from January 1, 2022.

Proactively discuss with Chinese agencies and localities about opening more border gates and customs clearance for agricultural exports, especially fruits and vegetables; encourage official exports through international border gates and main border gates; closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in negotiating quality management to open the export market for agricultural products; proactively provide market information, promote trade, and strengthen connections for agricultural product consumption in localities; support traders to boost agricultural product consumption through e-commerce channels.

The Ministry of Transport directs relevant agencies to ensure a smooth transportation system nationwide, creating the most favorable conditions for the transportation of agricultural products and input materials for agricultural production and consumption and export of agricultural products.

Inspect and guide unified circulation in localities; review and request the abolition of local documents that are contrary to the regulations of the Government and the Prime Minister on the circulation of goods; absolutely do not allow congestion; localities are not allowed to issue sub-licenses.

Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to promptly resolve the shortage of empty containers and find solutions to reduce freight rates for export and import; take the lead in building an information technology system to support the regulation of vehicle traffic at the border gate area and on the roads leading to the border gate to avoid congestion.

Support the implementation of epidemic prevention and control work at production and business establishments

The Ministry of Health coordinates with ministries, branches and localities to direct specialized agencies to inspect, supervise, guide and support the implementation of epidemic prevention and control work at production and business establishments in accordance with the characteristics of each type of production in the agricultural sector.

Direct, guide, and supervise localities to use the results and validity period of the two COVID-19 testing methods (rapid test and PCR); provide specific instructions when people have been fully vaccinated with two doses in provinces and cities to have labor to maintain production, circulation, and consumption of agricultural products.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment continues to improve the investment environment for the agricultural sector, especially encouraging businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas; reviewing and arranging investment capital to upgrade infrastructure, warehouses at border gates and agricultural processing infrastructure in localities.

The Ministry of Finance directs customs agencies at border gates to quickly carry out procedures and clear goods through border gates, especially road border gates across the northern border, giving priority to customs procedures, customs inspection and supervision of agricultural products during the main harvest season; increasing working hours, promoting electronic customs clearance, facilitating customs clearance for agricultural products officially exported to China.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the Government and the Prime Minister policies to support seeds (plants, livestock, aquatic products) for farmers to restore production in localities implementing social distancing according to Directive 16/CT-TTg.

Promote solutions to remove difficulties for customers borrowing capital in the agricultural sector

The State Bank of Vietnam directs credit institutions to continue to focus capital resources to meet capital needs for production, processing, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products; quickly and effectively implement credit policies and programs in the agricultural and rural areas; continue to promote solutions to remove difficulties for customers borrowing capital in this sector affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through restructuring debt repayment terms, maintaining debt groups, exempting, reducing, lowering lending interest rates, etc.; encourage credit institutions to develop credit products and banking services specifically for the agricultural sector; simplify loan procedures, creating favorable conditions for access to credit capital. At the same time, strengthen the inspection and supervision of the implementation of credit institutions to ensure that the State's policies reach people and businesses promptly and to the right subjects.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs guides, urges and inspects localities in implementing social security policies for workers in agricultural production enterprises, ensuring the labor force in localities when production is restored. Regularly inspect, supervise and make appropriate adjustments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to increase updating of information on production, markets, import demands of host countries, opportunities to promote cooperation and risks from trade barriers to Vietnamese agricultural products for ministries, sectors, localities, associations and enterprises; support agricultural export promotion activities of ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises.

Continue to comprehensively promote vaccine diplomacy to serve domestic epidemic prevention and control and restore production and business, contributing to creating a safe and favorable production environment for agricultural development, circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products.

No congestion in production, circulation of goods, consumption of agricultural products

People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities promptly and effectively implement Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP dated September 9, 2021 of the Government on supporting enterprises, cooperatives, and business households in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring epidemic prevention and control work at the grassroots level in accordance with the actual situation in the locality.

Establish a Working Group to provide professional advice on epidemic prevention and control to production and business establishments, freight transport units and promptly advise on solutions when difficulties and problems arise; proactively develop plans for production, consumption and export of agricultural products; avoid disruption of the agricultural production chain; ensure stability of people's lives and promote growth.

Avoid congestion in production, circulation of goods, consumption of agricultural products and inter-provincial and inter-district labor movement, but still ensure safety in disease prevention and control, especially implementing 5K and disease prevention and control measures according to regulations; issue policies to support vehicle owners and drivers to reduce costs of transportation, consumption of agricultural products and circulation of agricultural materials.

Prioritize vaccination for human resources working in harvesting, processing, circulating and exporting agricultural products; organize guidance for businesses and producers to effectively implement regulations on disease prevention, control and control; develop and provide guidance on Covid-19 disease prevention in green areas and between green areas to facilitate the restoration of agricultural production.

Nghe An Province Farmers' Association promptly intervened to purchase many agricultural products for the people. Photo: QA

Direct local authorities at all levels to synchronously, resolutely and effectively implement measures to prevent and control epidemics in livestock, crops and aquatic products; prevent and strictly handle cases of illegal transportation of animals and animal products from foreign countries into Vietnam.

Localities with border gates proactively support businesses in removing difficulties in warehouses, preserving agricultural products, transportation services, and trade logistics at border gates; strengthen strict control of border gate areas to prevent and combat the Covid-19 epidemic; ensure customs clearance for agricultural exports in all situations; direct local authorities at all levels not to issue guiding documents that are contrary to the regulations of the Government, the Prime Minister, and ministries and branches on the circulation of goods.

Industry associations and enterprises promote the spirit of self-reliance, proactively grasp information and market demand, build effective production and business plans, improve product competitiveness, and integrate into the international economy./.