From starvation to the world largest rice exporter
21/2/14
A Vietnamese peasant cultivating rice
In 1945, Vietnam was suffered a worst famine in its
modern times, but Vietnam
now is known as one of the world largest rice exporters. It’s really a miracle
which has been made by efforts of the entire Vietnamese Party, army and people.
Thanks to the Doi Moi (renovation)
policy launched at the Sixth Vietnam National Party Congress in December 1986 which
started the country’s integration into the world economy and also imposed
policies encouraging the development of agriculture, rice production in Vietnam
increased rapidly. The government increased scope for land ownership, peasant
initiative, and allowed people to sell and buy on the private market. They had
even begun to make it easier for foreign companies to invest in Vietnam.
Most rice grown in Vietnam is
wet-rice, meaning that it is grown in flooded fields rather than dry land. The
two main granaries in Vietnam
are the Red River Delta in the north and Mekong River Delta in the south with the sown areas of 1.1 million hectares and 4.1
million hectares, respectively. The most prominent irrigated rice system is the Mekong
Delta. The Mekong River and its tributaries are crucial to rice
production in Vietnam.
A total of 12 provinces constitute the Mekong Delta, popularly known as the
"Rice Bowl" of Vietnam,
which contain some 17 million people and 80% of them are engaged in rice
cultivation. The delta produced bountiful harvest of about 20 million tons in
2008, about a half of the country's total production. The rice bowl has assured
food security to its population whose 75% of daily calories are met by rice,
which is also the staple diet of nearly 50% of world's population of
6.7-billion people.
Starting in 1987, the country began
exporting rice, and transformed itself from a rice importer to a rice exporter
in 1989. Now Vietnam is the
world’s second largest rice exporter, second only to India. Vietnam’s rice exports in 2012 hit
a record 7.7 million tons valued at US$3.5 billion. It exports rice to 120
countries. Asia and Africa are the two main importers of Vietnam’s rice, responsible for 71% and 21% of Vietnam’s rice
exports, respectively. Traditional importers of Vietnamese rice include the Philippines, Indonesia,
Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Cuba, the Ivory Coast, Angola
and Ghana.
China has emerged as the
largest buyer of Vietnam’s
rice, importing 2.1 million tons a year, accounting for more than one-fourth of
Vietnam’s
rice shipments.
Rice production in Vietnam is improving dramatically and substantially
contribute to the success of Vietnam
economic development. It has been a long and tough way for our country, but now
when we look back, we would joyfully admit that it’s worth for our efforts.
Vietnamese people now don’t have to
worry about how much of rice they have for their daily use, and clothing also. We
have been ensured about our fundamental living standards and basic rights, it’s
really a breakthrough in our history.
All comments [ 10 ]
Woa, how wonderful is this!
I'm impressed!
Vietnam rice have gained the foreign customer's trust
It has also gained a reputation for its quality
DOI MOI policy was a big step in the process of building our country
absolutey right Mr Le Tin
At the moment, Vietnam is not the world biggest rice exporter as I know, but in near future, it will retake its position
More and more countries are joining in the world rice market, so Vietnam have to improve its capacity to compete with other rice exporters.
Vietnamese peasants deserve more and better stumuli from our Gov, like Thai peasants.
I definitely agree with u, Huy Quoc
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