Vice-Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hau Giang province, Trinh Quang Hung: Festival shall make the Tradename for Vietnam rice

The First Vietnam National Rice Festival in Hau Giang has been ready for the opening date. The preparation is promptly done. Trinh Quang Hung, Vice-Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hau Giang province, Manager of the Festival Organization Committee, says:

The organization of the First Vietnam National Rice Festival is to honor Vietnam wet rice civilization attaching our people’s long standing cultural tradition. Via the First Vietnam National Rice Festival, the transfer of science and technology shall be actively applied in agricultural production, the trade and export of Vietnam rice is developed as well. Including, the effort of setting up The Mekong Delta’s rice trademark as well as Hau Giang’s- one of Vietnam rice trading centers. Besides, the developing motivity of a new province, a care to Hau Giang is made through the Festival.

* Hau Giang’s rice output is still lower than other provinces in the Mekong Delta. What makes Hau Giang be able to become an honorable host of the festival, sir?

According to me, The rice festival is not just held in the place which has a large farming area, high output. E.g Singapore, Japan do not have rich natural resources, potentialities, however, there are many fields developed here…Hau Giang enables to be a host of the festival mainly thanks to Hau Giang locating at the center of the western sub-region of Hau river – an area of rice production of the Mekong Delta. Hau Giang is also the premature rice exporting place in the country. In 1940s of the last century, Xa No canal had a large granary in Bay Ngan and exported a great deal of rice to the world. That is not a sine qua non for the Festival organization but an interesting detail for the festival.

* Sir, how is the preparation for the first Vietnam national rice festival up to now?

The time for festival preparation is very short, it is very pleased that the preparation is basically completed. The arrangement, decoration of the expo are being carried out now. In which, the expo center area of rice market transaction information has 400 stalls registered as designed. With the participation of 30 provinces, cities and 300 domestic and international agencies, units, organizations, enterprises.
The expo zone of “Vietnam rice” with the area of 1,800m2 has been in execution as progress. Besides, there are the indoor expo zone of models; dynamic engine; the fair of industrial product, consumer goods, Vietnam rural goods; street decoration, ornamental lights; the arrangement of welcoming entrance, welcoming gate and the others within the festival organization are going to be finished.

* Can you tell me the main programs and activities in the festival?

This is an important event of Hau Giang’s economy-culture and society. There are about 20 activities, including main activities: the opening ceremony, the closing one, introduction of the Mekong Delta’s typical art values attaching the wet rice civilization and the cultural feature of each national region. The four seminars consist: The international seminar of rice export, the investment promotion seminar, the seminar of “ Xa No canal” – the rice way of Hau Giang region, the seminar of Vietnam wet rice. There are almost 500 stalls for expo. Besides 300 exhibiting stalls of the enterprises in food and enterprises in products for rice production, there are more than 100 exhibiting stalls from other provinces, cities, the indoor and outdoor exhibition zones, the exhibition zone of Vietnam Food, Vietnam rice market zone.
In addition to, there are such activities as: awarding gold medals to Vietnam prestigious rice exporters, awarding the prize for the good agricultural encouragers, the festival of the south amateur music, re-apprearing floating market, organization of eating and drinking festival, Ngo boat racing festival, tours, about 30 parading vehicles decorated with flowers from Ho Chi Minh city welcoming the Festival, the ceremony of displaying the board of the works celebrating Thang Long – Ha Noi of 1000 years

* Can you tell me what Hau Giang should do to improve the rice quality in the market after the festival?

Firstly, the agriculture should make a further plan for the high yield and quality rice production zone. There should be an investment in equipments, machines to improve the rice quality. The preservation and process of products should be done well. The fair, equal combination should be made to ensure the rice farmers’ interest.

* Can you make an appraisal for the chance of Hau Giang as well as Vietnam rice in the Festival ?

Although it is impossible to be expected how many rice can be sold, how many contracts can be concluded in the festival, the marketing for Vietnam rice trademark can be done, which expresses Vietnam people’s pride on the agriculture including the rice production. Through the Festival, The rice trademark for Hau Giang as well as the Mekong Delta is introduced to the domestic and international customers; introducing the rice trade, production to everyone in order that Hau Giang rice is thought of whenever it is mentioned. And forming the rice market, the rice distribution center in the country and the exporting market; developing exchanges, trade of rice in the coming days.

* Thank you !

By HOANG TRUNG
According to www.baohaugiang.com.vn