New directive issued to foster agricultural promotion and exports during Covid-19

The fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has complex and expanded rapidly, wreaking havoc on agricultural output, circulation, consumption, and export, particularly in regions where social distance is enforced. The scenario results in a backlog of numerous agricultural goods, a sharp decline in pricing, and disruption of supply networks, all of which will impact supply in the near future, particularly around the Lunar New Year in 2022.

To expedite the process of consuming and exporting agricultural goods, the Prime Minister directed that ministries, departments, and provincial People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities concentrate on completing certain duties.

Following the direction, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is asked to direct localities to synchronously deploy solutions to ensure that the agricultural production chain will not be interrupted.

Simultaneously, the ministry must review and fully prepare the conditions for the next crop's production, particularly agricultural product processing and exporting enterprises in provinces that implement social distancing in accordance with Directive 16, ensuring an adequate supply of agricultural products for domestic consumption, processing, and export in all circumstances, particularly in the final months of the crop's production.

Additionally, MARD is directing local governments to encourage the development of agricultural production, consumption, and export to regions and areas that have successfully contained the COVID-19 epidemic in order to supplement and compensate for the shortfall in other localities, particularly southern provinces and cities. The two working groups' objectives must be maintained with their assistance in guiding production and linking agricultural product supply and consumption in the north and south.

MARD is tasked with directing and strengthening oversight of agricultural restructuring along three product axes (national key products, regional specialties, and OCOP products) to ensure progress and efficiency; as well as developing and implementing a circular economy model and a digital agriculture economy.

Additionally, it is accountable for developing planting area codes and identifiers for livestock and aquaculture establishments; ensuring product traceability and food safety; enhancing agricultural product promotion and consumption through trade and service promotion channels, particularly e-commerce; and coordinating and organizing the synchronous, drastic, and effective implementation of solutions to prevent and resolve conflicts.

To assume primary responsibility for, and collaborate with, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade in promoting the official export market for agricultural products to China (durian, sweet potato, passion fruit, custard apple, pomelo, bird's nest, and aquatic products).

The document requests that MARD immediately negotiate with relevant Chinese agencies in order to reduce the rate of animal and plant quarantine on the Chinese market; assume primary responsibility for, and coordinate with, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies, in assessing the impact, disseminating and guiding local governments, industry associations, and businesses to implement. Regulations governing the quality control of agricultural goods imported into the Chinese market are included in Order 248 and Order 249. They are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2022.

Agriculture must assume primary responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in developing and submitting to the Government and Prime Minister policies on seed support (plants, livestock, and aquatic products) to assist farmers in reestablishing production in localities that adhere to the social distancing guidelines set forth in Directive 16.

Coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to investigate and suggest suitable methods for using online assessment instead of face-to-face evaluation; or extending licenses, certificates, and designation decisions for up to six months.