Overview of the Prime Minister's Dialogue Conference with Farmers in 2024

This morning (December 31), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 6th dialogue conference with Vietnamese farmers in 2024. The conference was directed by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and organized by Nong Thon Ngay Nay/Dan Viet Newspaper.

The Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers is an annual activity chaired by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and assigned to the Nong Thon Ngay Nay/Dan Viet Newspaper to directly organize and implement. The first conference was held on April 9, 2018 in Hai Duong province. Theme: "Removing obstacles, unblocking driving forces, continuing the momentum of 30 years of innovation". Attending and directing the 6th Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers in 2024 were comrade Pham Minh Chinh - Prime Minister; comrade Mai Van Chinh - Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization; comrade Luong Quoc Doan - Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and many other comrades leading ministries, departments and branches...

At the Conference, the Organizing Committee also conducted online meetings at 63 locations in provinces and cities, with the participation of leaders of the People's Committees of provinces and cities; representatives of the Standing Committee of the Farmers' Association of provinces and cities; leaders of local departments, branches and sectors; representatives of farming households...

The conference took place in the context of the whole country entering the final year of the 13th National Party Congress with the highest determination of the entire political system to complete the goals set by the Congress to bring our country into a new era - the era of national development as General Secretary To Lam pointed out and the fields of agriculture, rural areas and farmers play an important and indispensable role in the era of development of the Vietnamese nation.

Leaders at the 6th Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers in 2024 took place this morning.

At the conference, many specific issues in each sector, field, and locality were basically discussed, agreed upon, and resolved in an open and frank spirit. However, there are many major issues that require unified decisions and policies from the Government and the Prime Minister.

More than 2,000 questions, opinions and proposals have been sent to the Government and the Prime Minister. According to Comrade Luong Quoc Doan - Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, the 2024 Conference of the Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers took place with many new features.

Images of typical farmers and businesses at the 6th Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers Conference in 2024.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: This year's conference takes place in the context of the agricultural sector achieving very encouraging and proud successes when exports reached a record of 62.5 billion USD, while last year I only assigned the agricultural sector a target of 55 billion USD. This result has a great contribution from farmers nationwide, affirming the role and position of farmers in the overall economic development of the country.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Luong Quoc Doan said that the Conference of the Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers is an annual activity. This is a forum for the Prime Minister, leaders of the Central and local departments, ministries, branches, agencies to directly listen to the opinions and recommendations of farmers, cooperatives, production and business enterprises in the agricultural sector on existing issues, difficulties, obstacles and shortcomings in the implementation of agricultural, farmer and rural policies.

Many farmers asked questions at the Conference. Before that, the Prime Minister said: “ I suggest that, at today's conference, what are your feelings and impressions about the agricultural achievements of 2024, what are your concerns and worries about improving living standards; what suggestions do you have for the Party, the State, and the Party Committees and authorities at all levels to better achieve the goal of building rural agriculture? We are here to share with each other valuable experiences and lessons; in addition, if you have any additional sharing or concerns about other issues, please feel free to speak up so that together we can build ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, and civilized farmers…”.

At the conference, farmer Nguyen Thi Bay - Director of Luong Phu Agricultural Service Cooperative in Phong Phu commune (Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh) asked: " The demand for training and career conversion for rural workers is currently very large, the subjects are not only simple farmers, but also middle-aged workers whose agricultural land has been recovered, but do not meet the standards for factories, need to be trained to change careers or workers who are no longer qualified to work in the industrial sector and return to the countryside... It is known that the State is having a policy on innovation in vocational training for rural workers. May I ask, in the coming time, how will this policy change?"

Meanwhile, farmer Le Manh Cuong, Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer of 2024 in Zone 6, Dong Trung Commune (Thanh Thuy District, Phu Tho) asked: “Developing agricultural tourism is a trend that brings sustainable economic value to farmers, especially farmers in rural areas, difficult mountainous areas as well as rural youth. However, in reality, in economic development, agricultural tourism development, we have some concerns…”.

At the connecting points, provincial and city leaders; departments, branches, and farmers' associations were also connected to monitor and ask questions.

At the Da Nang bridge, farmer Vo Thi Hanh Dung, Director of the 43Foods Green Food Cooperative in Hoa Khanh Bac Ward (Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City) asked: “In recent years, the State has had many policies on developing aquaculture and marine economy, helping millions of fishermen have stable jobs. However, in recent years, aquatic resources in many fishing grounds have been declining. Our country's fisheries industry is also being affected by the EC's withdrawal of the IUU yellow card. May I ask, in the coming time, what solutions will the Government have to protect aquatic resources in fishing grounds and overcome the IUU yellow card?"

Before answering the farmers' questions, the Prime Minister said he was very happy that despite being the last day of the year, the conference was attended by all delegates, both in person and via the internet, with more than 4,500 delegates, including nearly 2,000 farmers and cooperatives. The head of the Government answered many questions from farmers on the morning of December 31.

Comrade Nguyen Manh Hung (center of photo), Minister of Information and Communications, answered the question of farmer Vo Quan Huy . The Minister said that science, innovation and digital transformation are the three pillars for smart agriculture.

Ministers and industry commanders answer farmers' questions.

Answering the farmers' questions, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan shared: An Giang is very active in implementing the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice. An Giang has reported a 20-30% reduction in costs. Reducing costs will increase profits, which is a very good result. " Regarding the story of carbon credits, the Prime Minister has directed the development of a policy mechanism for this carbon market. This is very new to both the world and Vietnam. The ministries and branches are unifying to propose to the Governments to issue it. We are not talking about how much this credit can be sold for, but the benefits this project brings, it is larger and more useful for our agricultural production...", the Minister said.

Concluding the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: “After a lively discussion, I and the leaders of the ministries and agencies exchanged and frankly shared with farmers and cooperatives major issues related to agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, areas that the Party and State always care about…”.

“Today's conference, I have many emotions, the most important is to show the consensus, affection for agriculture, farmers, and rural areas is extremely full and profound. Looking back at a year 2024 with many events taking place, but with the efforts of the entire political system, the efforts of people, businesses, and the support of international friends, basically 15/15 targets assigned by the Party and State have been basically completed, even some targets exceeded the set level", the Prime Minister shared. The head of the Government also emphasized 9 important issues that relevant entities need to continue to pay attention to in the coming time to promote ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, and civilized farmers.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh took a photo on the sidelines with delegates attending the 6th Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers Conference in 2024.

Source: https://danviet.vn/toan-canh-hoi-nghi-thu-tuong-doi-thoai-voi-nong-dan-nam-2024-20241231133839463.htm