MARD launches project animating for high-quality rice cultivation and low emissions associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030
On April 24, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) held a ceremony to launch the Office of the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Development Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice in the Mekong Delta.
Minister Le Minh Hoan emphasized, the Project “Sustainable development of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality rice cultivation and low emissions associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030” (referred to as the Project) has a particularly important significance in the direction of transforming sustainable rice farming methods in the Mekong Delta; Forming and developing large-scale, stable and long-term concentrated raw material areas, ensuring quality, sustainable and effective farming.
“The project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice is a very new approach and thinking, difficult to implement, but it will stimulate us to constantly strive to create new values and see joy. , the newness of participating in this work,” the Minister emphasized.
Mr. Ngo The Hien – Chief of Office of the Project Steering Committee, said that to help the Project Steering Committee implement its tasks, on March 20, 2024, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development signed Decision No. 805/QD-BNN-TCCB established the Project Steering Committee Office, which assigned the Project Office to be located in the Planning Department, with Mr. Ngo The Hien – Deputy Director of the Planning Department as Chief of the Project Office.
Carrying out assigned tasks, the Project Steering Committee Office coordinated with units to organize the Project implementation conference in Kien Giang with the participation and co-chairing of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang. . At the same time, coordinate with units to develop and submit to the Ministry for promulgation the Project implementation plan; promulgate technical procedures for rice cultivation to reduce emissions to serve the Project. In addition, the organization surveyed the Project implementation model in Kien Giang and Dong Thap in a total of 5 provinces selected as pilot models.
In particular, build and organize many meetings and seminars to seek opinions on the process of measuring, reporting, and appraising MRV emissions; Develop training programs to strengthen capacity, communication plans and community agricultural extension. Develop a draft Decree and organize meetings and seminars to seek opinions many times, including internally and to seek opinions from Ministries and branches on the pilot mechanism for payment of emission reduction results and satisfactory financial management. Agree to pay for the results of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Organizing the Launching Ceremony of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice fields; draft and seek opinions at meetings and seminars on the TCAF project and World Bank loan project.
In the coming time, the Steering Committee Office will continue to advise and assist the Steering Committee in implementing tasks in accordance with the action plan to implement the Project in Decision 720 dated March 13, 2024 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said that currently, the Project Steering Committee is implementing three tasks at the same time: Building a legal mechanism, an operating mechanism for the Project, and coming up with a model and specific results to soon confirm. understand the meaning and effectiveness of the Project.
“If nothing changes, by August 2024 we will have a ‘reduced emission rice’ product and first of all, the Department of Crop Production will announce the basic standards,” Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said.
To have enough legal basis to recognize low-emission rice products, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is coordinating with units and localities in the Mekong Delta to deploy 5 pilot models with at least 250 hectares specializing in high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation, and must work continuously in 3 seasons: summer-autumn, fall-winter 2024 and winter-spring 2025 – 2026. At the same time, in early May 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will meet with Mekong Delta provinces and related units and organizations to discuss and ask for comments on building a legal basis related to payment for emission reduction. At the same time, work with the World Bank to reach consensus and submit to the Government for approval.
