Mekong Delta produces 4.3 mln tonnes of winter-spring rice

Mekong Delta produces 4.3 mln tonnes of winter-spring rice

The Mekong Delta produces 4.3 million tonnes of winter-spring rice, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In March and April, the figure stood at 3.2 million tonnes.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the nation exported 753,000 tonnes of rice worth 322 million USD up until March 10, down a huge 93.7 percent and 97.7 percent in volume and value, respectively, as its consumption abroad has turned sluggish.

It forecast that the overseas shipment of the grain will hit nearly 1.2 million tonnes in January-March quarter, down 300,000 tonnes year-on-year.

Orders for rice delivery from January to March 10 totalled 1.89 million tonnes. Of those, 1.14 million tonnes are on the waiting list while over 513,000 tonnes remain in stock.

At the mid-March meeting on rice production and trading in Can Tho city, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested that MARD immediately purchase 1 million tonnes of rice for stockpiles lasting four months.

Relevant units and rice exporters were also asked to extend their commercial reach, both in regular and new markets.

The Government and MoIT will negotiate with other countries to sign State-level cooperation deals in this regard.

For long-term solutions, it has been advised that regional localities cut about 112,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice to ease selling pressure. The acreage of rice should be cultivated with or supplanted by fruit or industrial trees such as corn, soybean, sesame, peanut and watermelon.

Fragrant and high-quality rice should be prioritised.

Up to March 10, the region harvested 620,000 out of 1.6 million hectares of rice with an average output of 6.83 tonnes per hectare.-VNA

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