Vietnamese agriculture highlighted at Davos Forum

On January 29, at a thematic session discussing the implementation of the “New Vision in Agriculture” held within the framework of the 42nd World Economic Forum in Davos, abbreviated as the Davos Forum 2012 (WEF-42), Vietnam was highlighted as an excellent example of promoting agricultural development in developing countries.

The meeting was attended by more than 100 delegates, including many heads of state and senior officials from various countries, along with 50 leaders from multinational companies and corporations and many international organizations. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat.

Illustration photo. (Source: Internet)

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Cao Duc Phat introduced the activities of 5 working groups (including tea, coffee, vegetables, seafood and general industry groups) and Vietnam's implementation experience. The effective implementation of these working groups has brought about encouraging results. Up to now, 10,000 tons of Phu Tho tea have been consumed according to the "Rainforest" standard, a mandatory standard for exported tea in the Unilever Group system.....

The Minister stated that all working groups are trying to apply new technical advances and food hygiene and safety standards. In the context of Vietnam continuing to promote agricultural development and economic restructuring, the efforts of the working groups have been on the right track to increase value to achieve the common goal of increasing farmers' income and developing sustainably with the environment.

Minister Cao Duc Phat also highlighted the main directions of work that will begin in 2012: promoting the activities of 5 newly formed industry groups and rural credit groups, adding activities to protect the environment in the direction of Green growth to the activities of the groups. Starting to research and apply solutions to replicate model activities for the entire industry and building policies and mechanisms to institutionalize these initiatives on a regional and national scale.

Mr. Cao Duc Phat also called for more active and proactive participation of businessmen in investment activities, technical consultancy, policy making suggestions, creating better conditions for farmers to participate more effectively in production and development activities and have effective support from the state, businesses and farmers in the agricultural development process. These proposals received positive support from delegates attending the meeting.

Vietnam officially joined the “New Vision for Agriculture” initiative in 2010. This is an initiative of the World Economic Forum to increase agricultural output by 20% while reducing poverty by 20% and reducing carbon emissions by 20% in 10 years.

In addition to Tanzania, Indonesia and Mexico have joined the initiative, and two other countries have begun implementing it, India and Nigeria. From the initial 16 multinational corporations, 26 multinational corporations have now joined the initiative./.

According to VNA