Vietnam, Africa share experiences in agriculture

 A seminar entitled “Sharing experiences in agricultural and rural development between Vietnam and Africa” was held in Hanoi on October 19.
Participants in the seminar, who came from several African countries, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, and Vietnamese institutes and universities, discussed such issues as agricultural and rural development policies, a “green revolution” that may be implemented in Africa, and agricultural development in the international integration of production, processing and trade.
As an agricultural country with nearly 73 percent of its population living in rural areas, Vietnam has continuously issued policies relating to the production, distribution and sales of rice, said Dr. Hoang Xuan Phuong from the Agricultural Planning and Designing Institute.
Dr Greg Mills, Director of South Africa’s Brenthurst Foundation, said that agriculture and rural areas are given priority in both Vietnam and African countries.
After 20 years of renovation, Vietnam has gained many achievements in agricultural development, he said, adding that from a rice exporter, Vietnam has now become the world second largest rice exporter.
Vietnam has also implemented many agricultural development projects in Africa, he said.
The seminar was jointly held by the Research Institute of Africa and the Middle East, the Brenthurst Foundation and the South African Embassy in Vietnam.