VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of Dong Thap province has refused to host the Rice Festival 2014, reasoning of budget difficulty and the Party’s instruction on practice thrift in organizing festivals.
The Vietnamese map made of flowers and rice at the 2nd Rice Festival
After the 2nd Vietnam Rice Festival 2012 in Soc Trang province, Dong Thap province was chosen to host the 3rd Rice Festival in 2014.
The estimated cost for this event is up to VND20 billion ($1 million) so Dong Thap has refused to hold the event.
Vice Chairman of Dong Thap province – Mr. Nguyen Van Duong said the main reasons for Dong Thap’s refusal are: 1) the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee has instructed local governments to practice thrift in organizing festivals; 2) the local budget is limited while local businesses are in difficulties and in need of capital for business.
The province refused the Rice Festival 2014 in order to reduce the burden on local businesses, to focus its effort in helping farmers sell rice, increase profits – the most essential thing during this period.
In addition, in the opinion of many provincial leaders and the Department of Agriculture of some provinces in the Mekong Delta, it is unnecessary to hold the Rice Festival constantly. After each rice festival, rice prices went down, the rice farmers continued to suffer from the circle of “good harvest, bad price”.
S. Tung