Organic farming in Vietnam lacks certification and support policies from the State, a representative from the Cultivation Department said at a seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12.

As heard at the seminar, organic farming is important for Vietnam amid concerns over food safety. However, the business is small scale and underdeveloped.

Photo for illustration. Source: thanhnien.vn

A domestic agency to accredit organic products has yet to be established, meaning organic exports have to seek accreditation from foreign organisations such as the Control Union, the Institute for Marketecology and the Japanese Agricultural Standard.

The Government issued Decision 01/2012/QD-TTg on support policies targeting good agro-forestry-fishery practices, including organic farming, but the assistance has mostly gone to farming based on good agricultural practices.

Vo Minh Khai, head of Vien Phu Organic & Healthy Food JSC, said the lack of transparent policies and regulations on organic farming is the main obstacle for the sector.

Regulations on clean production and good certification are not specific, he said.

Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said organic production is a practical demand of agribusiness in Vietnam, whose geographic and social features are suitable to organically produce rice, tea, vegetables and fruit.

The MARD will work to promote Vietnamese organic goods domestically and internationally, Nam said, adding that his agency and the Ministry of Science and Technology will study the difficulties organic firms face.

Support policies will be proposed to develop of the sector, he said.

Source: VNA