Vietnam government advised to resume rice exports

Rice reviewing result of the inter-ministerial delegation shows that Vietnam still has about 1.5 million tons of rice that can be exported.

After deducting about 700,000 tons for reserving to prevent risks during coronavirus pandemic, local businesses can export 800,000 tons in the next 2 months, and half of the amount can be exported in April, ministry said.

After 3 days of conducting a field survey under the prime minister's instructions, in order to determine the situation of domestic food security in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

The survey results show that in the Winter-Spring crop of 2020, Vietnam has about 3 million tons of rice for export. Local businesses have exported 1.7 million tons. Thus, the country still has about 1.5 million tons of rice that can be exported.

In the context of pandemic and strengthening food security, an additional reserve of 700,000 tons should be added, the industry and trade ministry, said, adding the remaining 800,000 tons could be exported in April and May.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it has been working closely with ministries, localities to focus on directing the implementation of solutions, ensuring the rice production plan in 2020.

Expected annual rice production in 2020 will reach 43.5 million tons of paddy. In particular, the winter-spring crop is estimated at over 20 million tons of paddy.

Kien Giang and Long An, two provinces in the Mekong Delta, the rice basket of the country have asked the government to lift the rice export ban, saying it would discourage farmers from growing the autumn-winter crop this year.

Speaking at an online conference held to review the winter-spring crop by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, vice chairman of the Kien Giang People’s Committee, Mai Anh Nhin warned that the suspension of exports would significantly impact rice production.

Earlier, Ministry of Finance said the General Department of State Reserves has a plan to buy 190,000 tons of rice for storage by June 15 to ensure enough food amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

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