Agricultural, farmer and rural development is a strategic issue.

On October 12, at the Presidential Palace, President Vo Van Thuong met with the delegation of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the General Association's establishment (2013-2023).

According to Mr. Ho Xuan Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development, after 10 years of establishment, the General Association has attracted more than 230 collective members and more than 10,000 individual members, including businesses, organizations, intellectuals and individuals, supporting each other to develop, contributing to building modern agriculture, wealthy farmers and civilized countryside.

President Vo Van Thuong speaks. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

In recent times, the General Association has actively promoted, proposed and provided social criticism on the Party and State's policies on agriculture, farmers and rural areas; contributed opinions on the overall restructuring of the agricultural sector; promoted digital transformation and transferred science and technology to farmers; organized programs to promote the golden brand of Vietnamese agriculture, contributing to connecting the consumption of agricultural products.

The General Assembly recommends that the State soon have policies to further encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural areas; support the General Assembly to participate in consulting and reviewing a number of national target programs; and form a Fund for new rural construction in border and island areas.

Speaking at the meeting, President Vo Van Thuong sent his best wishes to the delegates and the General Assembly, congratulating the General Assembly on its remarkable achievements over the past 10 years. Affirming that the Party and State consider the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas as a strategic issue, the President emphasized that the great achievements of "Innovation", the country's foundation, position, prestige and potential as they are today have important contributions from agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

President Vo Van Thuong meets with a delegation of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The agricultural sector not only ensures domestic food security but also exports with great value. Vietnamese agricultural products are present in many demanding markets and are popular. In the context of COVID-19, the country is facing many difficulties, agriculture, farmers, and rural areas are important pillars for the country to overcome difficulties, ensuring good implementation of social security policies.

The President highly appreciated the General Association for organizing many meaningful activities, pioneering in the fields of circular economy, green economy, environmental protection, and people's health protection; implementing many humanitarian programs to support farmers in difficult areas; strengthening strong international cooperation, affirming the role of a strong professional social organization, known by many countries in the world.

Referring to the goal of turning Vietnam into a high-income developed country by 2045, President Vo Van Thuong suggested that the General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development actively promote and mobilize farmers to strongly, substantially and comprehensively transform their thinking from self-sufficiency to large-scale production, in line with commodity production and the market economy; and support farmers to become agricultural workers.

The President emphasized the need to perfect policies to create strong conditions for agricultural and rural development. History shows that leaps in development and outstanding results are thanks to policies, typically “Contract 10”. The President suggested that the General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development should actively participate in this issue because its members working in the fields of agriculture, farmers and rural areas are the ones who deeply feel the advantages and disadvantages of the policies and make important contributions to perfecting the policies.

President Vo Van Thuong with delegates of the Vietnam General Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The President also requested the General Association to organize well activities to support farmers through training, knowledge dissemination, promoting science and technology transfer, agricultural and fishery extension to guide farmers and fishermen to produce green, clean, safe, protect their own health and that of consumers; promote the implementation of the new rural construction program, and maximize the role of farmers as subjects in the process of agricultural production and rural development.

Appreciating the General Association's emphasis on and promotion of circular agricultural economy, the President suggested that the General Association replicate the models, promote, support and attract more farmers to participate. Members continue to cooperate closely to help and support each other in both production and consumption of products; in which it is necessary to do a good job of forecasting the production and market situation, avoiding the situation of good harvest but low prices, ensuring agricultural production and farmers' incomes are increasingly better.

The President requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies to create favorable conditions and support for the General Association to promote its strengths and operate more effectively. The President believes that the General Association will promote its strengths and achievements, continue to have better results, and contribute to the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in Vietnam.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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