Seminar discusses market-based agricultural planning

Hanoi (VNA) - A seminar took place in Hanoi on Feb. 26 for participants to share their experiences in making plans and policies for the agriculture and rural development sector in market-oriented nations.

Speaking at the seminar, jointly held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MARD) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), MARD
Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong said market-based plan making is a big issue that
requires changes in awareness and close cooperation between departments and
ministries.

To shift from subsidy to market-oriented mechanism, the MARD will continue its
renovation with focus on addressing market factors, connecting planning with budget
and adjusting plans and policies, he added.

Many participants said that the old way of plan making is not suitable to the
market-oriented economy as it focuses on production and business targets rather
than settle issues relating to strategies, policies, and the environment, and
fails to connect plans of action with those of budget.

According to Trang Hieu Dung, Head of the MARD's Planning Department, the mapping
out of plans in the coming time will consider improving living conditions for
rural residents, especially poor people, protecting the environment, developing
rural areas and reducing poverty along with increasing the agricultural sector's
competitiveness and international integration.

While sharing experiences in the issue, Paul Gibson, Deputy Director of the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Economic Research Service, said that his
ministry's strategic plan is to expand economic opportunities through the use of
its financial sources to boost the private sector, increase capital sources for
rural communities and improve living standards in rural areas.

The participants also discussed a frame of supervision and assessment for the
implementation of existing agricultural plans and the supervision of these plans at
the ministry and its agencies.-Enditem