Govt projects to promote food security and commerce
Govt projects to promote food security and commerce
The government plans to set up two projects for sustainable food security and commercial agricultural production.
One project is for rice production while another relates to livestock promotion, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe reported at the 8th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly Seventh Legislature on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry planned to encourage farmers to produce 4.7 to 5 million tonnes of rice by 2020 and 5 to 5.5 million tonnes by 2025, of which 70 percent would be sticky rice and 30 percent white rice, he said.
The country currently needs 2.1 million tonnes of rice for the population's consumption and 400,000 tonnes for stockpile but this figure will not be sufficient to supply people in the future.
So, the ministry has to encourage farmers to produce at least 2.5 million tonnes of rice a year.
To reach future targets, the ministry, in cooperation with relevant government organisations, is seeking measures to propose to the NA.
Firstly, the government should allocate to divide the specific growing areas for rice production and have good management and should not use those areas for other purposes, Mr Vilayvanh said.
“We are now selecting 10 provinces, which have good potential and conditions for rice production such as Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Champassak and Saravan,” he explained.
These provinces comprise large flat areas which are suitable for rice production.
Secondly, the ministry will allocate the detailed plan for irrigation in the rice production areas to guarantee sufficient water supply.
“One more important thing is that we should take responsibility to produce high quality rice varieties to supply to farmers,” said Mr Vilayvanh.
In 2020, the ministry expected that rice varieties demand would increase to 17,000 tonnes and 30,000 tonnes by 2025 but at the present the ministry is able to produce only 3,000 tonnes or 10 percent of farmers' demand.
This year it was expected that farmers would produce about four million tonnes of rice including wet and dry season rice as well as upland cultivation, accordin g to the ministry.
The ministry also required that the cost of electricity be reduced for entrepreneurs such as rice mill groups, agricultural products processing manufacturers and agricultural equipment product factories as well as the provision of low interest loans from banks.
The policies would help agricultural business entrepreneurs reduce their operational and capital costs.
For livestock promotion, the ministry will increase measures in animal health inspections for safety, as well as improving the animal health services at local and central levels.
The ministry will also increase the capacity of animal feed products, supply sufficient animal stock and reform the land to better facilitate livestock raising to increase production quantity and quality.
