Mindset shift is key for Vietnamese agriculture

Vietnam's agriculture is strongly transforming towards "green", low-emission and sustainable development. To realize this goal, the role of international partners, including FAO, is extremely important.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan works with high-level delegation of FAO

On February 6, Minister Le Minh Hoan received and worked with a high-level delegation of leaders of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In the context that the agricultural sector is facing many challenges, international technical and financial support sources for Vietnam's agricultural sector are increasingly scarce and difficult, FAO's support for regional and global projects, programs, initiatives, and FAO's direct technical cooperation for Vietnam is very necessary.

FAO is an important partner

At the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan affirmed that FAO is an "important partner" among the United Nations technical cooperation agencies and international organizations for Vietnam's agriculture and rural sector.

Throughout the development process of Vietnam's agricultural sector, there has been a huge positive contribution from international partners and friends, including the FAO, helping Vietnam to implement the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG1 and SDG2.

In 2024, the agricultural sector will continue to affirm its important role and be the pillar of the economy, firmly ensuring food security, contributing to social stability and livelihoods for over 60% of the population living in rural areas, contributing 11.86% of the country's GDP and creating jobs for nearly 30% of the workforce.

According to Mr. Khuat Dong Ngoc, changing thinking is the key factor to create breakthrough changes in Vietnam's agricultural sector. The next steps need to be aimed at synchronously developing product lines, gradually building a green agricultural economy, contributing to improving Vietnam's position on the world agricultural map.

Mr. Khuat Dong Ngoc believes that every prosperous agriculture starts with local products such as OCOP, increases the value of the industry, and then moves towards building “green cities” in the countryside. These are three important milestones to help improve social security for rural people.

Vietnam is currently restructuring its agricultural sector towards increasing added value and sustainable development, taking into account emerging factors such as trade liberalization, climate change, smart agriculture and food loss control.

Within the framework of World Food Day 2024, 45 domestic and foreign partners signed the Partnership Agreement on food system transformation in Vietnam, affirming their common commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Vietnam's agriculture is actively transforming towards "green", low-emission and sustainable. The project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, emission reduction associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030", with the goal of forming 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice specialized areas associated with reorganizing the production system according to the value chain, improving production and business efficiency, income and life of rice growers.

Mr. Khuat Dong Ngoc recommended that, after the initial success of green transformation of the rice industry, Vietnam can replicate the model to other industries such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Support Vietnam to participate more deeply in South-South Cooperation

Mr. Le Minh Hoan suggested that FAO closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop specific cooperation projects and programs to mobilize capital from donors and Climate Finance Funds, contributing to supporting the implementation of Government programs and plans in the fields of rice cultivation, crop cultivation, sustainable aquaculture development, livestock breeding, and forestry.

FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting South-South agricultural cooperation.

Stand side by side with Vietnam in implementing the Action Plan to transform the food system towards transparency, responsibility and sustainability, promoting the participation of the private sector in investing and developing ecological, low-emission agriculture.

Vietnam also wants FAO to share international experiences, promote the application of digital technology and science and technology throughout the agricultural value chain; support capacity building, especially in the fields of ecological agriculture development, agricultural tourism, disease management, resource management, and transboundary water management; and support the construction of Vietnam's Food Innovation Center.

Vietnam is ready to share experiences and cooperate with other countries in agricultural and rural development through South-South cooperation programs and Tripartite cooperation with the support of bilateral and multilateral international partners. FAO is proposed to be a bridge to mobilize finance for Vietnamese agricultural experts to guide, conduct demonstration models and share experiences with African countries through South-South cooperation. Vietnam is ready to establish a South-South Cooperation Center for the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Khuat Dong Ngoc affirmed that FAO is ready to support Vietnam to participate more deeply in South-South Cooperation, because this not only brings benefits to Vietnam but also to countries in the Southern Hemisphere.

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/chuyen-doi-tu-duy-la-then-chot-nong-nghiep-viet-nam-160277.html