HANOI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam, the world's second biggest rice exporter, is estimated to export nearly 4.4 million tons of rice worth roughly 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of this year, posting year-on-year declines of 9.5 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively, according to the country's General Statistics Office Thursday.

    Vietnam, which exported more than 5.2 million tons of rice worth nearly 1.4 billion dollars last year, has set a target of producing 38-39 million tons of paddy rice and selling overseas 5 million tons of rice at most this year, a move to ensure the country's food security.

    Vietnam, under its strategy for rice production until 2010, will develop several areas designated for growing rice for export, including one million hectares in the southern Mekong Delta and 300,000 hectares in the Red River Delta, and focus on upgrading irrigation network and applying advanced technology in rice production, processing and storage, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.