Vietnam to boost rice exports
Updated
The world's second biggest rice exporter, Vietnam, will increase exports after finding there's enough for its own people.
Officials had limited rice exports earlier this year to keep domestic prices stable and secure food supply as the global food crisis developed.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says he has now ordered the acceleration of rice exports to help farmers sell all of their harvest and to provide bigger supplies to the world market.
He says the earlier restrictions have balanced domestic consumption for 2008 and Vietnam is now capable of exporting a total of about 4.5 million tonnes of rice.
World grain prices have risen because of higher fuel and fertiliser costs, greater global demand, droughts and the loss of farmland.
