In resolution 26 adopted by the tenth Party Central Committee (PCC), many issues related to agriculture, farmers and rural areas in Vietnam in the international integration process were discussed. I believe that when the resolution is put into practice, it will have a positive impact on people’s lives, the deputy minister said.

VOV: Resolution 26 came into being due to difficulties in agriculture and rural development. What has been done to overcome these difficulties since the adoption of the resolution?
Mr Hung: The resolution not only solves urgent issues but also puts forth a long-term strategy on agriculture, farmers and rural areas through 2020. Therefore, the government’s action plan and the resolution have mapped out things to be done through 2010 and from 2010 to 2020. At first, in 2009, we should focus on the regions which have encountered the most difficulties such as the 61 poorest districts which comprise 50 percent of the nation’s poor households. There should be a policy to ensure the interests of farmers. In the first quarter of this year, MARD should submit criteria on new rural areas. Currently, the political bureau is giving opinions on the establishment of a central steering committee to select a location to set up a new rural area model in Vietnam. I think that, if we have implemented these tasks well, the resolution will prove effective in reality.

VOV: In the process of compiling and approving the resolution, policy makers are under great pressure from farmers to make changes in mechanism and policies. Do you think the pressure is easing off?
Mr Hung: There remains a lot of pressure as some issues cannot be solved in the short-term such as the amendment to the current land law or re-training and changing jobs for farmers, especially in the context of the global economic downturn. Currently, many small and medium-sized enterprises go bankrupt. Although the secretariat and the forecasting group have anticipated these issues, there remains a lot of pressure to bear upon them.

VOV: In 2009, what are the MARD’s new orientations to cope with the situation?
Mr Hung: In 2008, apart from implementing the central resolution No 7, we should address some hot issues such as the economic downturn, which have not been forecast. For example, if we do not devise solutions to save craft villages, 11 million labourers or half of them will lose their livelihoods. This is not only a big problem for the agricultural sector but for the whole society. Therefore, apart from the government’s five group of solutions and US$1 billion stimulus package, MARD and relevant agencies should devise solutions for ensuring steady jobs for farmers. The MARD is also submitting to the government proposals to save Vietnam’s craft villages to the government.

VOV: As I know, donors are concerned about the implementation the government’s directives at the grassroots level. Do you worry about this problem?
Mr Hung: Donors are right to worry about the problem. There are two issues at the local level. First, there remain shortcomings in administrative procedures to implement the government’s proposals. Secondly, the government’s action plan is at the national level, so it is up to each locality tailor a proper programme to their needs, not blindly duplicate the government’s plan.

VOV: In your opinion, what benefits will people enjoy in 2009 from such policies?
Mr Hung: People in the regions with the most difficulties will enjoy benefits first.   The government is expected to pay special attention to such areas, especially by investing in infrastructure, irrigation for the agricultural sector and social welfares in general. In addition, it is also necessary to focus on programmes for safe water, health, education and replace 230,000 sub-standard housing units in the country. In addition, the fine tuning of policies in the spirit of the PCC is likely to be completed n 2009. So, by the end of 2010, before the term of the 10^th Party Central Committee concludes, some issues in the resolution will have been solved.