The Vietnamese government said in its rice export strategy that it aims to reduce its rice exports to four million tons annually by 2030 from 7.1 million tons last year.
Vietnam is the third largest rice exporter in the world after India and Thailand.
According to the document, dated May 26, the move aims to “promote exports of high-quality rice, ensure local food security, protect the environment and adapt to climate change.”
The document said that Vietnam’s rice export revenues will decline to $2.62 billion annually by 2030, compared to $3.45 billion in 2022.
“The strategy seems too aggressive despite the decline in rice cultivation in Vietnam due to climate change and some farmers switching to other crops and raising shrimp,” said a rice trader in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.
The trader added that some rice farmers in the Mekong Delta are turning parts of their fields into orchards, but the vast majority still depend on rice cultivation.
The region witnessed an increasing tendency to establish shrimp farms (shrimp) due to the rise in sea levels as a result of climate change, which led to a significant increase in the salinity of the water in the Mekong River Delta.
The document said Vietnam would diversify its rice export markets to reduce its dependence on any one country. The Philippines has long been the largest importer of rice from Vietnam, buying 45 percent of its exports last year.
The document added that by 2025, 60 percent of Vietnamese rice will be exported to Asian markets, 22 percent to Africa, 7 percent to US markets, 4 percent to the Middle East and 3 percent to Europe. By 2030, Asian markets will account for 55 percent and Europe 5 percent of export markets.
2023-05-27 09:44:45
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