Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference held in Mekong Delta’s Can Tho city on October 15 to discuss measures to accelerate the project on sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.

The project was approved by the Prime Minister on November 27, 2023. It is part of efforts to restructure the region's production system and value chain with a focus on sustainable farming practices, higher product value, greater business and production efficiency, as well as improved livelihoods of rice farmers, in accordance with Vietnam's commitment to protect the environment, adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Vietnam is the first country to implement a large-scale low-emission rice production program. This is also the world’s first project to produce one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice under government-level direction.

PM Chinh stressed that the project is of paramount significance for regional farmers, rice industry, and Vietnam's broader efforts to combat climate change, aiming for net-zero emissions in line with commitments made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in collaboration with 12 regional provinces, has carried out this project, already achieving notable initial results.

PM Chinh asked relevant ministries and localities, to submit detailed reports on the project's implementation, highlighting any obstacles faced and proposing solutions to overcome them.