Vietnam has about 76,666 hectares of land for organic agricultural production, ranking seventh in Asia and third in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) revealed at a seminar in Hanoi on September 5.

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However, the ministry, said the number remains moderate as compared with a total of 26.8 million ha of farming land nationwide.

Experts at the seminar pointed out factors hindering organic agricultural production in Vietnam such as small scale of production and lack of production and consumption strategies, along with issues regarding product diversity and quality. 

To remove these difficulties and promote organic farming production, the MARD has consulted experts and producers about the project on developing organic agriculture in Vietnam for 2020-2030 with a combined investment of 36.49 trillion VND (1.5 billion USD). 

Under the project, land for organic agricultural production will account for 1.5-3 percent of the total area of farming land by 2025. The rate is set at 7-10 percent by 2030, with major products such as rice, vegetables, fruit, pharmaceutical products, coffee and pepper. 

The ministry expects to complete the project and submit it to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the fourth quarter of this year. 

Statistics reveal that in 2018, the EU imported over 3 million tonnes of organic products from Vietnam, with 24 percent fruits, nuts and spices; and 22 percent cereals, among others.