Vietnam zeroes in on hunger elimination

Dung was speaking at the first meeting of the National Steering Committee for the ten year (2016-2025) Zero Hunger Action Programme.

The programme was established by the Prime Minister in 2014 in response to the “Zero Hunger Challenge” of the United Nations, a major initiative to eradicate hunger worldwide.

Vietnam’s action programme targets ensuring enough food and nutrition for all citizens towards improved physical and intellectual health; and towards fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs) of food security and sustainable agricultural development.

There are five specifics targets under the action programme, including ensuring food and nutrition for people all year around; no malnutrition among children under two; development of a sustainable food system; most small-scale farmers enjoying increase in productivity and income; and no wastefulness and loss of food.  

The programme will create an institutional platform to design and implement food security and nutrition policies measures in a coordinated manner so as to have a sustained impact on national food security, poverty reduction and development of new rural areas (under criteria set by the Government).

Funds for the programme will be mobilised from international donors as well as allocations made to target programmes earmarked by the Government.

Dung said Vietnam has participated resolutely and effectively in the “Zero Hunger  Challenge” and has gained many achievements in human development, particularly poverty reduction.

He urged relevant ministries and agencies to proactively and resolutely implement tasks to help improve the efficiency and efficacy of the action programme.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the nation’s poverty rate reduced from 46.9% in 1990-1992 to 9% in 2010-2012 period. The national plan aims at “basically tackling poverty” by 2020.