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Submitted by ctv_en_7 on Tue, 01/17/2006 - 11:20
Vietnam exported more than five million tonnes of rice in 2005, earning over US$1.3 billion. The positive results were attributed to the stable quality of Vietnamese rice, which meets consumers’ tastes in demanding markets, including Japan.

Currently, some rice export contracts for 2006 have already been signed, mostly for export to the Philippines, the Middle East and Indonesia.

Farmers in large rice-growing areas are focusing on the applying modern technology in production activities and post-harvest preservation, as well as using new rice varieties for intensive cultivation to increase the productivity and quality of export rice.

Located in a tropical and monsoon region, Vietnam braces for natural calamities that badly affect the agricultural sector in general and rice production in particular. Rice crops are often harvested in rainy and stormy seasons, and the agricultural sector reveals weaknesses in processing and preserving products.

According to experts, if rice is dried and well preserved, rice export value increases by US$30 per tonne. Hence, with a rice export volume of five million, Vietnam could earn an additional US$200 million, which is equivalent to the cost of buying 3,000 rice driers for the Mekong Delta region - the country’s largest rice basket.

To secure a firm foothold in the world market, it is very important to develop trademark for locally grown rice. Director of An Giang’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department Huynh The Nang said the province is building trademark for Phu Tan sticky rice, which is grown on an area of 35,000 hectares. An Giang province currently has the highest commodity rice output in the country.

Hau River Farm is one of the businesses operating effectively in An Giang and its trademark, SOHAFARM has won praise from many foreign customers. Apart from developing the trademark, the farm has also invested in building materials supply zones on an area of 5,000 hectares and use 40 rice dryers to improve its post-harvest operations.

However, there are few businesses operating in the same way as Hau River Farm does in the Mekong Delta River. Such businesses still face challenges in terms of rice strains, market predictions and infrastructure. In addition, the relationship between farmers and enterprises is not close enough.

In spite of difficulties, economists see positive signs in Vietnam’s rice export prospects. Like garments and seafood, Vietnamese farm produce exports are continuing to rise. According to the Ministry of Trade, there will be a lot of advantages in exporting rice to foreign markets in 2006 and it has set a rice export target of 4-4.2 million tonne in 2006.

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