How did Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong talk about organic agriculture?

Organic agricultural production is considered a strong growth trend in the world. In many countries, the growth rate of organic agriculture amounts to 15%. How does the Minister comment on this trend?

– Organic agricultural production is a trend of the world in the past 10 years, currently, the total area of ​​organic farming in the world is about 71 million hectares, accounting for 1.5% of the total cultivated area and continue to increase in the coming time. According to the International Organic Agriculture Organization (IFOAM), there are 186 countries developing organic produce.

The reason for the development of organic agriculture is considered one of the progressive and inevitable trends of the world because it has created fundamental and sustainable values. Firstly, organic production has created a product line that is very useful, nutritious and safe, contributing to protecting the environment and natural resources during agricultural cultivation; Second, organic farming methods also ensure biodiversity. So organic farming is not only good for the consumer but also good for the producer, good for growth now and in the future.

In the general flow of the trend of developing organic agriculture in the world, how has Vietnam been prepared to promote the development of organic agriculture, Minister?

Of course, Vietnam is not out of that common flow. In the last 4 years, organic agriculture has been promoted rapidly, gradually forming an organic agricultural ecosystem.

If in 2017, for the first time, a major forum on organic production was held, only a year later, the Prime Minister issued Decree 109/2018 / ND-CP on the development of organic agriculture. . Subsequently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a circular guiding organic agricultural production. In June 2020, the Prime Minister continues to issue a project to develop organic agriculture until 2030 with the target that by 2025, the area of ​​organic agricultural land will reach about 1.5-2%; The area of ​​organic cultivated land accounts for over 1% of the total cultivated land area with key crops such as: rice, vegetables of all kinds, fruit trees, tea, pepper, coffee, cashew, coconut … Billion The rate of organic livestock products reaches about 1-2% of the total domestic livestock products.

The good news is, organic agricultural production has been responded by economic sectors and farmers. Up to now, 46/63 provinces and cities have organized organic agriculture with an area of ​​over 233,000 hectares, mobilized 60 businesses to directly participate in production, there are 200 cooperatives, 173,000 farmers. Organic. In 2019, the export turnover of organic agricultural products reached 330 million USD.

We are also facing a huge opportunity to export organic products when the Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially comes into effect on August 1. The EU is a large market, in the world trade of organic agricultural products, only the EU market accounts for 50%. If we organize the production well, we can completely penetrate this market.

Could you please tell us, in the coming time, what solutions will the Ministry implement to achieve the goals set by the Prime Minister’s project?

– In the organic agricultural development project, the Government has clearly defined development targets for each agricultural product group in terms of scale, area and value. Currently, MARD is cooperating with provinces, cities and Organic Agriculture Association to implement the project.

Specifically, we guide provinces in advantageous regions and regions to develop organic agriculture; perfecting mechanisms and policies to attract all economic sectors to participate in organic production.

Coordinate with line ministries to perfect mechanisms and policies for organic agriculture to develop. For example, to coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to complete the organic agricultural development regulations and standards; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Investment to ensure resources to encourage enterprises and cooperatives to do organic agriculture. The ministry’s point of view is to focus on identifying a number of key plant and animal species for organic production in areas where all input conditions are converged, without rampant development and form.

But saying that does not mean that organic production is something sublime, farmers and cooperatives can do it as long as they comply with the correct process, promoting linkages will create a circular economic chain. safe and sustainable.

Thank you Minister!