The hundred-year journey of Vietnam’s rice

Vietnam Agriculture News recently had an interview with Mr. Dong Van Thanh, Chairman of Hau Giang People's Committee about the "Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023".

Honor those who make rice

Hearing the news about an international-level festival of the rice industry going to be hosted by Hau Giang province, the people are feeling full of excitement and expectation. Dear Mr. Thanh, can you please tell us how the province's preparations are going?

The "Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023" is an important event which will be held periodically every 2 years, alternately in Mekong Delta provinces and cities. The festival this time is expected to take place at the end of 2023 or early 2024, in Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province, with the theme "The hundred-year journey of Vietnam’s rice".

This is an international festival, so regarding the participants, there are representatives of ministries and branches under Central, provinces, cities and many farmers in the region, not to mention other guests from leading countries in the rice industry such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Large rice consuming markets such as China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and African countries are also taking an interest in this event.

I believe this is the right time to organize the event as a way to introduce the achievements of Vietnam’s rice industry, the contributions of farmers, scientists, cooperatives, and the business community, highlighting the role of central and local authorities. From this event, we can spread the word about the commitments of Vietnam's leaders to the world: "Vietnam is a responsible country participating in a transparent, responsible, and sustainable global food system".

There is not much time left until the opening day of “Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023”. The Prime Minister has given instructions and assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hau Giang People's Committee and related agencies. We will make careful preparations for the content, logistics and reception work to guarantee that the organization of the festival is practical, efficient and effective.

Vietnam í currently one of the world’s top rice producers striving to become a “food innovation hub”. How will "Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023" contribute to that cause?

Vietnam's agricultural industry in general and the rice industry in particular have left a vivid presence on the world market and achieved remarkable achievements. In the context of the food crisis occurring on a global scale, Vietnam’s commitment to achieving a responsible, transparent and sustainable rice industry and enthusiastically participating in the global food system is even more solidified.

Through the organization of "Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023", Vietnam mobilizes international support to become a "Food Innovation Center" of the region. In fact, there have been many projects related to the development of the rice industry that have been organized and implemented very successfully by Vietnam, with the support of international organizations. Typical examples include the Vietnam Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project (VnSAT) sponsored by the World Bank and the Project Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector Vietnam (GIC Vietnam) funded by the German Development Cooperation Organization (GIZ).

Recreate the development journey of Vietnam’s rice

Hau Giang was the host of the first Rice Festival in 2009, which resulted in big success. Now coming back to the sixth festival with higher demands for uniqueness and professionalism, how will Hau Giang organize the event to honor the value of Vietnam’s rice industry, and importantly, “the hundred-year journey of Vietnam’s rice”?

Hau Giang has experience in organizing many large-scale cultural events, and the first Rice Festival in 2009 can serve as a great example. By 2023, the festival has been upscaled to the international level. The province determines that this event will be organized in the spirit of breakthrough, newness, uniqueness, professionalism, and efficiency, making attendees feel excited, thereby bringing better value to farmers.

Currently, in the Mekong Delta specifically Hau Giang province, large fields of hundreds or thousands of ha have been formed. The fields are without human footprints thanks to the application of advanced rice farming processes and synchronized mechanization, with cluster seeders, transplanters, drones and combined harvesters. Sitting at home, farmers can monitor their fields through an automatic pest monitoring station, know the water level in the fields thanks to smart sensors, and control irrigation and drainage pumps no matter where they are with just a few operations on mobile phone.

“Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023" aims to honor the outstanding value of rice grains, promote the marketing of Vietnamese rice products and Vietnamese rice brands with the message “the hundred-year journey of Vietnam’s rice”. We will show the world the beauty of Vietnamese culture and people associated with wet rice civilization. Thereby, it will recreate the development journey of Vietnam’s rice, from "the buffalo goes, the plow follows” to mechanized production and modern agriculture.

Through activities at the festival we will create more space for exchange of scientific research achievements and technical advances in the rice industry between countries. We will share with research centers around the world our biotechnology and diverse products made from rice grains as a way to promote the public-private partnership model in the rice industry as well as public-private cooperation in research, science and technology.

Map out a vision for linkage and transformation in mindset

“Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023" is going to be organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Hau Giang province. It would be favorable to introduce the achievements of the Party Committee, government and people of Hau Giang, as well as the province's important contributions to the agricultural industry. What are your thoughts on this matter?

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the province's establishment, Hau Giang wants to organize this festival to let people see its development achievements, including the rice industry. After 20 years of determination, efforts and unity of the Party Committee and people, Hau Giang can be proud of its achievements.

When newly separated from Can Tho province (January 1, 2004), Hau Giang had a low starting point with ample difficulties and challenges, especially in terms of socio-economic. But with high determination and great efforts, the economic growth rate (GRDP) of the province in the period 2004 - 2010 increased by 12.1%, reaching 6.27% in the period 2011 - 2015, and 5.26% in the period 2016 - 2020.

Particularly during the period 2021 - 2023, the economic growth rate has achieved impressive results. Hau Giang province's economy has grown higher than the region and the country average. In the first 6 months of 2023 alone, the province's GRDP increased by 14.21. This is also the highest result since the establishment of this province.

Being the organizer of “Vietnam Rice International Festival - Hau Giang 2023", the province hopes to bring out a new vision for a tighter connection between Hau Giang in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and the Mekong Delta, along with the transformation from production mindset to economic mindset for the rice industry.

Thank you, sir!