The Central Committee of the Việt Nam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) announced the 4th national dialogue between PM Phạm Minh Chính and farmers on Monday, which is planned for May 29. VNS Photo Tố Như

HÀ NỘI — The fourth national dialogue between Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and farmers, will take place on May 29 in the northern province of Sơn La, the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) announced on Monday.

About 500 people are expected to join the dialogue in person, including 300 outstanding farmers, representatives from agricultural co-operatives and companies, scientists and experts. The event will be broadcast to another 62 localities nationwide.

VNFU Vice President Đinh Khắc Đính said that the dialogue was themed “Strengthening and supporting farmers; implement the vision of sustainable agricultural and rural development.”

As of May 23, more than 1,600 questions, proposals and recommendations have been sent to the PM via channels, including the Farmers Associations of provinces and cities and Dân Việt E-newspaper - the agency of the VNFU, Đính said.

Nguyễn Văn Hoài, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Nông thôn Ngày nay (Countryside Today) newspaper, said that through summarising the content of questions, suggestions and recommendations to the PM, major concerns were about increasing prices of agricultural materials such as fertilisers, animal feed and pesticides due to the impact of COVID-19, inadequacies in land management, and the amended Land Law.

Other issues were linkages and cooperation of agricultural co-operatives, capital sources for agricultural production, environmental pollution in rural areas, rural cultural identity, and policies and strategies related to sustainable agricultural and rural development.

At the press briefing on Monday, the VNFU gave information about events in the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) Việt Nam Fruit and Product Festival, which will open at Tây Bắc Square, Sơn La City, on May 28, and will last until June 1. 

The OCOP Việt Nam Fruit and Product Festival will include a conference to connect and promote mango and Sơn La-based agricultural products export and consumption; “the “Road of Agricultural Products” exhibition; booths on the cultural and culinary space of the mountainous areas; online fairs; agricultural and OCOP products trading on e-commerce platforms; flowers and fruits carving contest and more.

Prime Minister Chính will attend a groundbreaking ceremony of the Mộc Châu Milk Paradise project, go to the inauguration ceremony of the Mộc Châu glass bridge, visit a model of typical agricultural production; and survey the construction progress and investment of Doveco Sơn La fruit and vegetable processing complex, the largest fruit centre of its type in Mai Sơn District, Sơn La Province. VNS