A number of issues relating to the attraction of businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas, and the application of high technology in the field were raised at the ongoing question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the eighth meeting of the 14th National Assembly in Hanoi on November 6.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong
speaks at the session (Source: VNA) 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the number of businesses investing directly in the sector has increased three folds from over 3,000 to 11,800 over the past three years. Most of the major economic groups have been investing throughout the country, creating a new driving force for agricultural development, he added.

However, he admitted that this number is still modest and said the ministry will continue providing consultation on policies for the Government and the National Assembly, including the adoption of the public private partnership (PPP) investment law, to mobilise investment.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung further explained that investment attraction policies in agriculture and rural areas are relatively sufficient.

The Government promulgated Resolution 53/NQ-CP in July 2019 outlining solutions to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture in an effective, safe and sustainable manner, he added.

Answering a deputy’s question about the poor livelihood of ethnic minority people in the mountainous region of the Central Highlands due to the lack of farm produce markets, Minister Cuong said it is necessary to call for businesses to jointly create production value chains with farmers.

He said this is the responsibility of the ministry, so it will work with localities to put forth policies to invite businesses to invest in agriculture soon, especially in the Central Highlands.