Preferential treatment for hi-tech farmers in VN 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, said the five biggest commercial banks “must create the best conditions to serve farmers, organisations and localities wanting to develop hi-tech agriculture”.
The conference was held to discuss ways to develop a modern, safe agricultural sector in Vietnam.
“Building a hygienic and safe agriculture is a must in Vietnam,” Phuc said. 
“I hope the enthusiastic participation of farmers and enterprises in hi-tech agriculture will open a new chapter for agricultural development in Vietnam, firstly providing safe food for local residents, and then exports.”
He pointed out that only 4,000 enterprises out of 600,000 companies invest in agriculture.
“The mission of the government in the coming time is to have enterprises in rural areas develop agricultural production,” he said.
To support hi-tech agriculture, the Trade Ministry “must consider technical barriers to stop cheap imported food, promote trade promotion and engineering and automation for reducing agricultural machinery, and encourage supermarkets to consume hygienic and safe food”.
The government will submit a proposal to the National Assembly to consider laws that would allow enterprises to own large tracts of land for hi-tech agricultural production, Phuc said.
The government is also considering a land fund to take back land and support compensation.
“The Ministry of Health must also increase food safety inspection,” he said. 
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should review all land policies to promote hi-tech agriculture. 
“The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) should issue a credit policy for hi-tech agricultural investment and establish funds for hi-tech agriculture.”
About 70 per cent of the population work as farmers but agricultural production contributes only 20 per cent to GDP. 
In developed nations, only 2-4 per cent of the population work as farmers but they contribute up to 40 per cent of GDP.
“If the government and the National Assembly can consider using large tracts of land, it will be good, because we can’t produce much on small plots of land,” said farmer Vo Quan Huy, from the southern province of Long An, who exports millions of dollars of bananas and other agricultural products.
The law only allows individuals or households to own from two to 30 hectares of land each for agricultural production.
Farmers and enterprises have complained that they have not been able to mortgage their land at banks, and thus have had difficulties seeking bank loans.
Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT, suggested the government conduct research on building agricultural industrial parks.
“Policies for agricultural development are limited, while open policies on land, credit and technologies are very important,” he said.
SBV has said that from mid-November, the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank began preparing 50 trillion dong (Bt79 billion) to serve individuals, households, collectives and enterprises producing hygienic, safe food at a preferential interest rate.
“SBV has actively encouraged hi-tech agriculture since 2014 by developing supply chain models,” said Dao Minh Tu, deputy governor.