Farmers who were born in the autumn of the 1945 August Revolution are now over 60 years of age; they’ve tasted the bitterness and sweetness of life. Experienced as they are to make judgements about the past and present, the future is not a concern to them any more. It’s because farmers of this generation feel the rapid change of the country more deeply than anyone else, especially in the past twenty years since Vietnam began its Doi Moi (renovation) process.

If the August Revolution had liberated farmers from the shackles of slavery and oppression and brought them significant rights, including the right to own land and means of production, the renovation process launched in 1986 could be called the second-time liberation. It aims to renew people’s thinking and creativity so that farmers will gradually remove all superfluous barriers in order to increase productivity and improve living standards.

These two stages of liberation serve the same purpose of providing favorable conditions for everyone to live in a happy, prosperous and democratic society.

In both important periods, the peasant class along with their agricultural and rural development played a vital role. During the August Revolution, farmers were considered a driving force, contributing blood, sweat and tears to the nation’s glorious victory. In the pre-renovation process, research and experiments into agricultural product allotments provided a practical foundation for the entire Party and people to renew themselves. Most recently, international newspapers said Vietnam’s economic growth is the growth rate of humanity as its benefits have been reaped by all, including farmers - a force still accounting for 70 percent of the national population.

A dynamic economic growth rate of over 7 percent in the past several years has generated rapid changes in production, in society and in life. But many farmers have fallen behind because they failed to adapt to new changes.

Low incomes and a lack of access to higher education, better health care, culture, science and technology have further isolated farmers from other groups in society.

Impacts from industrialisation, urbanization, and deeper integration into the world economy have also hampered farmers as they have not prepared themselves for new rules and new challenges.

During globalisation and trade liberalisation, farming is a sensitive area that needs Government protection. While Vietnam negotiates to become a member of the World Trade Organisation, agriculture and farming is proving especially sensitive.

Challenges for Vietnamese farmers are undeniable. The important thing is how to make the best of opportunities and minimise risks for farmers while building policies and development strategies.

It is not by chance that in the national plan for socio-economic development in the 2006-2010 period approved at the 10^th National Party Congress, agriculture is given top priority. However, what farmers need is a suitable policy and specific actions. For example, how will farmers and their families be compensated, and what shall their fate be after their cultivated land is retrieved for other non-agricultural purposes.

With a sense of loyalty, strong confidence, industriousness and creativity, farmers are joining efforts with other people in the whole country to make another significant breakthrough in the renewal process based on their inner strengths.