Elevate value of rice seeds by the International Rice Festival

The meeting saw the attendance of MARD Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Public Security, Culture, Sports and Tourism, etc; and leaders of Hau Giang province and MARD departments.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, the International Rice Festival 2023 taking place in Hau Giang province would not only be the pride of the province but also the ministry's as it is the very first large-scale event during the 14 years of organization since the first event in 2009.

Citing the 6th International Rice Congress recently held in the capital city of Manila, Philippines, the Minister noted, "There is no reason why a rice-producing powerhouse like Vietnam shouldn't showcase itself," and the International Rice Festival 2023 opens an opportunity for Vietnam to introduce its potential, production strengths, and the quality of its homegrown rice.

"There is no better time than now for Vietnam to send a message to the world about a country that is responsible for global food security, a country with a strong rice industry. A successfully organized event will boost Vietnam's rice trade even further," shared Minister Le Minh Hoan.

A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Planning Department mentioned that the Ministry had established a Festival Steering Committee in Decision 3905 dated September 19, 2023. The meeting aimed to report on the ongoing work and provided input for upcoming activities.

Regarding the organizational work, as per the agreed assignment between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committee of Hau Giang Province, the Ministry will oversee five main activities, including showcasing rice farming machinery and equipment, a policy dialogue between Vietnam and Africa, South-South cooperation, support for food security system transformation, a conference on the sustainable value chain development of Vietnamese rice, a conference on the global rice situation and future trends, and a conference on scientific technology and innovation in the rice industry.

Furthermore, the Ministry will also be responsible for coordinating various tasks with Hau Giang Province, including the preparations for the machinery and equipment showcase, the four conferences, and event communication activities, aiming to successfully organize the event.

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, the Deputy Permanent Chairman of the People's Committee of Hau Giang Province, stated that the International Rice Industry Festival Vietnam - Hau Giang 2023 is being organized to coincide with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Hau Giang Province. The festival will feature various festive activities, seminars, competitions, record-setting events, and more. This is an excellent opportunity for the province to attract attention and enhance local promotion.

The province will collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to host five main events during the festival, including one showcase and four seminars. Mr. Tuyen also outlined some specific initiatives that the province will focus on, such as creating a rice map, and an exhibition area, setting festival records, and establishing the "Rice Pathway." Some of these activities will be invested totally by the private sector.

Vietnam Agriculture News will play a significant role in providing media sponsors for the entire event, along with some sideline activities such as organizing international visitor tours and cultural exchanges. The Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Agriculture News, Nguyen Ngoc Thach, shared that the newspaper is actively engaged in various tasks to support the festival, such as producing documentary films, and a bilingual guidebook about the Vietnamese rice industry, and holding press conferences.

During the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others contributed their ideas to ensure effective coordination among all parties and the successful organization of the festival. All participants agreed that this is a great opportunity to elevate the value of Vietnamese rice and honor the rice industry.

Minister Le Minh Hoan expressed his hope that this event would prompt a fresh perspective on the Vietnamese rice industry in general and the Mekong Delta rice industry in particular. He cited examples like Thailand's "Think Rice – Think Thailand" campaign to promote the Thai rice brand and India's proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023, highlighting that Vietnam can also establish its rice brand on the global stage through events like the International Rice Festival 2023.

This event will allow the agricultural sector to celebrate and gain confidence as it transitions from traditional rice production methods to high-quality, low-emission, and globally demanded rice production.