Agriculture and Rural Development, said Vietnam is exporting fruits and vegetables to nearly 40 countries and territories in the world. The country is among five largest exporters of vegetables, flowers and fruits in the world. Its key exports include cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage. The total export turnover of vegetables, flowers and fruits was more than US$800 million in 2012. But, the horticulture development fails to meet Vietnam’s potential and the country is calling for international support and cooperation from foreign organisations and sponsors, including the Netherlands. Vietnam and the Netherlands are carrying out a number of horticultural development cooperation programmes in order to boost export.
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, Vietnam annually imports 35-40 million lily seed tubers, 2-3 million tulip seed tubers, 2-3 million gladioli seed tubers, and a variety of other flowers like rose, gerberas, anthuriums and orchids. The institute has also partnered with Kalistal and Steewoden companies of the Netherlands in the exchange of expertise, technical training and seed exchange. Besides, the Netherlands has many cooperation and support programmes for training horticultural personnel and technical instruction. For example, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute has partnered with the International Plant Centre under Wageningen University of the Netherlands on the exchange of expertise, fieldtrip study, and training in the Netherlands. The Hanoi Agricultural University of Vietnam has also received assistance from the Dutch Government for horticultural student training.
In late March in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised a roundtable conference in the formation of Vietnam - Netherlands Horticulture Cooperation Forum. At the conference, the ministry and its Dutch partner, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, agreed to sign the Vietnam - Netherlands Horticulture Partnership Agreement.
Mr Pham Dong Quang, Deputy Director of Crop Planting Department, said a lot of crops in Vietnam have high productivity but have low value. The inherent weakness of Vietnam's agriculture is the absence of advanced technology. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has advanced agricultural technology; thus, the cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam in agriculture is necessary and appropriate. This partnership will benefit both sides. Vietnam wants to cooperate with Dutch companies in seed production, flower growing, harvesting, storage, transport and export.
According to the agreement, businesses will play primary roles in Vietnam - Netherlands partnership with the support of the Government which will focus on such policies as institutional development and policymaking to enable enterprises to play their roles in the partnership. They can boost capability with attending short- and long-term training courses, exchanging experts, and promoting agriculture. The Netherlands will transfer technologies to Vietnam, especially new techniques in plant seeding, seed treatment, post-harvest technology; support Vietnam to organise and manage production, and improve food hygiene and safety. Vietnam and the Netherlands will also strengthen cooperation in quarantine and plant protection, orient market development and perfect supply chain system, promote clean production, and adapt to climate change.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Dang Khoa said this agreement signing marks a new chapter in the agricultural development cooperation between the two countries and open up new prospects for horticulture development.
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