Speaking at the festival’s opening ceremony in the Mekong delta province of Hau Giang on Nov. 28, PM Dung emphasised that the Rice Festival is significant in bringing together rice producers, businesses, importers, distributors, consumers and scientists to seek opportunities for cooperation and partnership.

Binding closely with the nation’s history of construction and defence, rice cultivation has by far accounted for 90 percent of the output of seed crops and contributed to improving incomes for around 80 percent of Vietnam’s households in rural areas, he said.

Accordingly, rice plays an extreme important role in ensuring the nation’s food security, PM Dung underscored, hailing Hau Giang province for coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors and rice-growing localities, VINAFOOD II and donors to organize the festival.

He highlighted the fact that rice has brought Vietnam from a food-shortage country into the world’s second largest rice exporter which has for 21 years exported more than 70 million tonnes of rice to earn nearly US$20 billion for the country.

The Government leader noted that the Mekong delta has held a crucial position in the nation’s rice production industry, as it churns out more than 50 percent of the total rice output and 90 percent of rice exports.

While talking about untapped potential in rice farming and production, Mr Dung spoke of difficulties and challenges facing rice farmers and businesses, including natural calamities and especially climate change. The Party, the State, farmers, scientists, businesses and the entire political system should work together to develop and carry out such plans to respond to climate change in order to help rice growers avoid risks, he added.