Food security issues in the context of a pandemic.

It is quite remarkable that the Prime Minister's opinion was given during the 2020 winter-spring rice crop season, which saw a bumper harvest nationwide. According to projections from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the total rice production nationwide is expected to reach approximately 20.1 million tons by the end of the season. Of this, the northern provinces will account for about 6.9 million tons, and the southern provinces 13.2 million tons.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the nationwide online conference summarizing 10 years of implementing the "National Food Security Plan to 2020". Photo: VNA

However, the reality is that the Food Security Project Review Conference took place against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted all aspects of social life. As of early April 2020, there were nearly 1.2 million cases of coronavirus infection in over 200 countries and territories worldwide; nearly 65,000 people had died from Covid-19. In Vietnam, as of April 5th, there were 241 confirmed cases, of which 90 had recovered. Vietnam also conducted centralized quarantine for over 80,000 people in provinces and cities across the country.

The reality is that the pandemic has been raging on a global scale, bringing all aspects of social life to a standstill and stagnation; all production activities have been forced to temporarily halt to focus efforts on combating the disease. This has raised the issue of food security for countries around the world.

Forecasts indicate high demand while supply becomes limited. For many years, Vietnam has consistently ranked among the top three rice exporting countries in the world. However, in the context of the severe and ongoing spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that, whether we like it or not, we must first ensure sufficient food for the 100 million people in the country. The responsibility of the Party and the State is to stabilize food security and the lives of the people amidst the pandemic.

"Without agriculture, there is no stability" remains a very true saying of our ancestors, and we need to continue to apply it in the new situation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed

Maintaining stable rice cultivation areas and ensuring food security are top priorities in the current period. Photo: Hai Vuong

Further elaborating on the importance of food security, the Prime Minister noted that in early March 2020, after the first Covid-19 infection, the food market immediately became chaotic, with people scrambling to stockpile food. The Prime Minister affirmed that, despite the exceptional circumstances at this time, Vietnam does not lack the supply of food and essential goods to serve its 100 million people. Even during peak days, the Government directed food stores and distribution businesses to remain open until 11 PM daily.

An assessment of the 10-year implementation of Conclusion No. 53-KL/TW dated August 5, 2009, of the Politburo on the "National Food Security Plan to 2020" shows that, during the period 2009-2019, rice production increased from 39.17 million tons to 43.4 million tons; average per capita food production increased from 497 kg/year to 525 kg/year, placing Vietnam among the top 6 countries in this indicator, and Vietnam's role in supporting food security for other countries is increasingly growing.

The reality of agricultural production in Vietnam shows that while the country is among the world's leading rice exporters, its food security ranks 57th out of 113 exporting countries. The lives of agricultural producers remain impoverished, with many households still experiencing food shortages. Furthermore, there is still instability in land use planning; a lack of synchronized infrastructure and science and technology; an abundant but low-quality agricultural labor force; some shortcomings in policies for farmers, localities, and rice production and trading businesses; limitations in the food distribution and export system; and continued difficulties in balancing the nutritional needs, health, and life expectancy of the population.

Farmers in Quynh Di (Hoang Mai town) harvesting rice. Photo: Thanh Yen

Speaking on this issue, Politburo member and Head of the Central Economic Committee Nguyen Van Binh stated that "practice makes perfect," especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of food security. However, food security must be considered within the context of overall development, alongside other sectors. Vietnam's goal is to become a modern developed country by 2045.

Furthermore, agriculture must be considered in the context of increasingly severe climate change. All levels of government, sectors, and localities need to study and re-plan and restructure agriculture, with each region basing its development on the comparative advantages of each agricultural product. The goal is to ensure that farmers earn a 30% profit when participating in agricultural production.

However, regardless of the shift, the prerequisite remains maintaining stable rice production areas while simultaneously improving farming efficiency. This requires the involvement of scientists, government at all levels, businesses, and the farmers themselves.

Farmers in Nam Dan are mechanizing their agricultural production. Photo: Hai Vuong

After more than 10 years of implementing Resolution 26-NQ/TW of the Central Committee (10th term) on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, the lives of the people have improved. According to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, for Resolution 26 to continue to be implemented in the new phase, it is necessary to focus on restructuring agriculture and increasing agricultural exports by 9-10% annually. Scientific solutions are needed, along with investment in infrastructure design, assessment of human resources, and effective disaster response measures. Furthermore, it is crucial to address existing shortcomings in the linkage of agricultural production and product consumption.

"We must fix the annual rice cultivation area and not chase market demand; this must be closely linked to the restructuring of agricultural production within the overall economic development of the country; shifting the perception of agriculture from social welfare to meeting nutritional needs, in order to contribute to improving the health and stature of the Vietnamese people," the Prime Minister emphasized.

In Nghe An province, after 10 years of implementing Conclusion No. 53-KL/TW of the Politburo and Resolution No. 63/NQ-CP of the Government, the average per capita grain production increased from 397 kg in 2008 to over 417 kg in 2018; average per capita income in rural areas in 2018 increased 3.7 times compared to 2008 (28.4 million VND/7.65 million VND); the rate of poor and near-poor households decreased rapidly from 28.89% in 2008 to 5.54% in 2018, and there are no longer any starving households.