"Transfer the thinking of agricultural production to the agricultural economy"

That will solve the congestion of agricultural products both in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as after the pandemic.

Although the outbreak of Covid-19 at the end of April 2021 has caused many difficulties for  agricultural product consumption, the program "Connecting agricultural product consumption - sharing love through the Covid-19 pandemic" by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development chaired and coordinated with three other units, which made an important contribution to the consumption of many products, typically lychee, from the organization of production and consumption of lychee in Hai Duong and Bac Giang. How does the Agriculture and Rural Development Department calculate for  the connection model of agricultural product consumption in the future?

Minister Le Minh Hoan: The issue of lychee from Bac Giang and Hai Duong is a suggestion to think about the direction of development and consumption of agricultural products in the future. The connection of lychee consumption in Bac Giang is not about how many tons of lychee can be consumed. It is important what lessons and models can be drawn to bring sustainable value in agricultural consumption. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will work with ministries, sectors and organizations to summarize the program, consider it as a scenario to constantly respond to fluctuations in the market.

If there are no market fluctuations, this model will also create clarity with a new mindset. That means activating a whole system to connect information and data from supply to demand. When there is transparent data information, multi-dimensional analysis information, with the participation of the producer industry in the locality, up to the specialized ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, then to the central system of distribution of agricultural products is to have a more transparent picture.

Producers will understand the needs of the market in terms of output, standards, and how to distribute and circulate goods. Besides, consumers also know the origin of agricultural products. The shopping mall knows the raw material areas in each moment, do not have to wait until the harvest to take into account the distribution, but that distribution must reach the forecasts.

Although the fourth outbreak of Covid-19 at the end of April 2021 has caused many difficulties for  agricultural product consumption, the program "Connecting agricultural product consumption - sharing love to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic" chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with three other units, has made an important contribution to the consumption of many favorable products, typically lychee, from the lesson of the organization of production and consumption of lychee in Hai Duong and Bac Ninh.

How does the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development calculate for  the connection model of agricultural product consumption in the future, Minister?

Minister Le Minh Hoan: The issue of Bac Giang lychee, before that of Hai Duong, is a suggestion to join together. thinking about the direction of development and consumption of agricultural products in the future.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will work together with ministries, sectors and mass organizations summarize the program, consider it as a scenario to stand on and respond to market fluctuations. If there is no market volatility, from this model will also create clarity with a new mindset.

That means activating a whole system to connect information and data from the supply end to the demand end. When there is transparent data information, multi-dimensional analysis information, with the participation of the producer industry in the localities, up to the specialized ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, then to the central system of distribution of agricultural products. is to have a more transparent picture.

Producers will understand the needs of the market in terms of output, standards, and how to distribute and circulate. Besides, consumers also know the origin and origin of agricultural products. Trade centers know the raw material areas in each period, do not have to wait until the harvest to take into account the distribution, that distribution must reach the forecasts.

Transforming the growth model in agriculture towards a circular agricultural economy to adapt to climate change is one of the solutions set out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in order to realize the goals and plans in the future. Could you tell us more about this?

Minister Le Minh Hoan: Vietnam's agriculture is a high-yield, high-priced agriculture, but it comes with very high costs. In doing business, it is not possible to calculate only output or  revenue, but must be calculated on profit.

I think it is necessary to change the mindset from agricultural production to the agricultural economy. The current agricultural production value often grows due to increased productivity, which proves that production capacity is good.

However, does an increase in output mean an increase in value? Will the farmers have enough energy to reinvest and reproduce in the current situation of increasing input? For  example, the price of winter-spring rice is good, but in May 2021, the price of rice tends to decrease in the summer-autumn crop. Although many kinds of vegetables and fruits are of good quality, the export price has decreased, while the price of fertilizer and animal feed has increased sharply.

Therefore, new thinking must be created by activating the whole system through the connection of supply and demand information. As I said above, when we have transparent and multi-dimensional data, from domestic producers and distributors to management units, we will have a more transparent picture. It is necessary to have a "map" of an information system that can deal with seasonal calendars, proactively produce information, supply-demand output, etc. That will certainly solve the problem of agricultural product congestion in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as when there the pandemic is controlled.

In the future, which key solutions will the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development prioritize in the consumption of agricultural products?

Minister Le Minh Hoan: The export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products has achieved positive results in the first six months of 2021. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to take advantage of opportunities from Free Trade Agreements to remove barriers and penetrate new markets; solving technical difficulties, facilitate customs clearance, logistics infrastructure; expanding the agricultural product market to economies with additional product structure with Vietnam such as Japan, Korea, India, EU or  the Middle East.

In addition, it is necessary to promote the consumption of agricultural products in the domestic market, to promptly consume agricultural products for  the farmers, to overcome the situation of excess and decreases in prices causing damage to producers; forecast and coordinate with localities to develop plans to support timely consumption of main agricultural products (longan, orange, dragon fruit); coordinate and organize the connection and purchase of agricultural products, promote the consumption of agricultural products in large supermarket chains and systems.

In addition, it is necessary to focus on developing and applying high technology and digital transformation; develop e-commerce, strengthen support for  enterprises to distribute goods on e-commerce platforms.

Thank you very much!