PM requests improving mechanisms and policies to develop ecological farming

Addressing ministry and sector leaders and more than 2,000 farmers and representatives from cooperatives, Chinh emphasized that Vietnam is transitioning from an agricultural production mindset to developing an agricultural economy, in which agriculture must be part of an ecosystem that includes other industries for joint development.

To develop this ecosystem, he said many tasks need to be done, such as land accumulation, the application of science and technology, alongside increasing labour productivity, establishing mechanisms and policies on credit and taxes, and developing infrastructure.

Institutions and policies remain the bottlenecks that need to be addressed soon to leverage resources for agriculture and rural development, said Chinh, referring to land allocation initiatives in the 1980s that transformed Vietnam from a food-deficient country into the world’s leading rice exporter, reducing the poverty rate from 67% to just 1.93%.

The Prime Minister expressed a desire for farmers to continue contributing their ideas to build and improve institutions, mechanisms, and policies, including those related to land, taxes, fees, and credit. He also highlighted the importance of planning, land use, and addressing issues such as capital, insurance, markets, scientific and technological applications, training of quality human resources, and developing culture in agriculture.

The Prime Minister also noted that the Party and State are focusing on three strategic breakthroughs: institutions, infrastructure, and human resources. These include building flexible institutions, reducing compliance costs, developing strategic infrastructure, and training human resources to create momentum for modern agricultural development and improving the people’s standard of living. He called on local authorities to regularly engage in dialogue with farmers and to continue promoting the spirit of self-reliance, innovation, unity, and collective effort in advancing the country into a new era.

To support deep processing, elevate Vietnamese agricultural products, and attract investment into agriculture, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of building a brand with the engagement of the Ministry of Science and Technology, media agencies, and farmers. At the same time, he underlined the need to pour more investment into deep processing, promote development linkages, and diversify markets, products, and supply chains, with a primary focus on market research to meet consumer demand.

Public investment should lead private investment and activate all resources for development through public-private partnerships, he said.

During the dialogue, the PM lauded the agricultural sector’s impressive performance in 2024, saying the export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products is expected to exceed US$62.5 billion, an 18.7% increase compared to 2023, marking a record high. Its trade surplus reached US$17.9 billion, accounting for 72% of the total trade surplus of the economy. Vietnamese agricultural products are now available in 190 countries and territories worldwide.

Notably, Vietnam exported more than 9 million tonnes of rice, bringing in more than US$5 billion, and contributing to ensuring food security for both Vietnam and the world.

Agriculture continues to play a vital role as a pillar of the economy, said the PM.

He also set a target for the sector to earn US$100 billion in agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports in the coming years.