At the National Assembly’s Q&A session on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat answered questions related to issues under his charge. While answering deputies’ queries at the fifth session of the 13th National Assembly (NA) yesterday, Minister Phat talked of measures to remove obstacles in agricultural production and boost the country’s agriculture sector. The minister, the first Cabinet member to answer questions before the NA on the first day of the session, focused on how to promote agricultural production, create more jobs in rural areas, and overcome weaknesses and challenges facing the agricultural sector.  He put emphasis on state management on the price and quality of breeding animals and plants, fertilizers, insecticide and animal food, as well as the protection of forest and the speeding up of the new rural model building program. Answering questions on measures to help farmers overcome difficulties and boost the sustainable development for agriculture sector, Phat said it is crucial to strictly implement the government’s policy on economic restructuring in agriculture and developing rural areas with the target of increasing added value and sustainable development. He also mentioned the sector’s responsibility and solutions in planning for the development of modern agricultural production on the basis of applying advanced science and technologies.

The official pointed out long-term measures such as scientific and technological research and transfer, improvement of animal and plant varieties, application of advanced technologies and investment in infrastructure. The government has implemented programs of hoarding up rice to maintain price for farmers, instructing banks to increase credit for farmers and promoting exports. However, he said that stronger support from the government is needed.

When asked about how to enhance the position of Vietnamese agricultural products on the world market, Phat said the ministry will make more efforts to improve varieties and infrastructure system to meet higher requirements on food safety.

In response to concerns by deputies on production and distribution of insecticide, fertilizers, materials for agricultural production, the Minister acknowledged weakness in state management, adding that all localities inspected production and business establishments to ensure the quality of main materials for agricultural production and fight smuggling of the goods.

When asked about how to tackle low-quality fertilizers, he highlighted the importance of comprehensive measures from building legal framework and supervising system to increase coordination between relevant ministries and localities in strictly implementing the law in the field.

Minister Phat will continue answering deputies’ questions today, June 13.