Mekong conference to discuss strategy for winter-spring rice crop

CUU LONG DELTA (VNS)— The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap will host a conference on the purchase of paddy/rice from the current winter-spring crop for reserves.

The conference, held at the office of Dong Thap People’s Committee on next Wednesday, will also discuss rice export prices.

The conference, which is to be chaired by Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai, will focus on the co-operation and collaboration between farmers and exporters under the large-scale cultivation model; as well as the production and consumption of shrimp and tra fish in the country.

The Viet Nam Food Association (VFA) is scheduled to deliver a report on purchases of winter-spring paddy/rice and plans for this year’s rice export.

The An Giang Plant Protection Service (AGPPS) Joint Stock Co will report on achievements attained with the large-scale rice production model.

Businesses under the VFA have begun to purchase one million tonnes of rice of the current winter-spring crop 2012-13 for reserves under a decision by PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

The purchase campaign for reserve will last until 31 March 2013.

The VFA said it has appointed 120 buyers to take part in the rice purchase plan and commercial banks are ready to provide loans for VFA members to join the campaign.

According to the Deputy Chairman of southern Hau Giang Province People’s Committee, on last Friday one kilo of fresh IR 50404 paddy was sold for VND4,200 at the field right after harvest.

Although paddy prices were up two days after the launch of the reserve-purchase campaign, they are not sufficient to ensure reasonble earnings for farmers, he added. —VNS