Efficient restructuring of the agricultural sector has brought good results in the last few years, with agricultural products contributing significantly to total exports, but the sector is facing challenges, said Nguyen Trung Kien, an expert in the field.

Clean vegetables in a greenhouse in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

Japanese farmers whose fields are located near each other grow crops with the same seed variety and on the same schedule.

They also use advanced farming techniques. If farmers’ fields in some areas are not located near each other, authorities should create favorable conditions for them to swap land, according to the Japanese expert.

For farmers whose land is unproductive or who had no one to farm the land, authorities will help the landowner find a farmer to grow crops on their land.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said that Vietnam’s abundant agricultural supply could meet changing demand of local and global markets.

The sector aims for annual growth of a minimum 3 percent, with labour productivity improving by 3.5 percent a year by 2020, according to the MARD.

The ministry has also set a goal of having 15,000 agricultural cooperatives, increasing the income of rural residents by 1.8 times compared to 2015.

To achieve these results, the sector would need to develop a national key product group, a provincial key product group, and a "one commune, one product” group, a MARD representative said.

A systematic approach to training its growing workforce would also fully reap the benefits of free trade, experts said.

Authorities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho plan to provide training in agriculture for at least 1,400 people in rural areas this year, focusing mostly on crop cultivation and animal husbandry.

Vietnam attends Global Agriculture Leadership Summit in India

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam is attending the 11th Global Agriculture Leadership Summit in New Delhi, India from November 24-25. 

 

ASEAN works towards innovative agriculture

The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) opened in Hanoi on October 8 to prepare for the 40th meeting of AMAF, the 18th AMAF+3 and the 6th ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

 

Japan shares experience in developing agriculture

A conference themed ‘Experience in developing agriculture, farmers and rural areas – Lessons learnt from reality’ was held in Hanoi on September 6 by the Vietnam Farmers’ Association (VFA).

 

Vietnam, NZ agriculture ministers talk farm produce improvements

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong asked for New Zealand (NZ)’s support in improving the value of farm produce during a meeting with NZ Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety, and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor in Hanoi on August 29.

 

Australia aids gender equality project via agriculture, tourism in Lao Cai

The Lao Cai People’s Committee and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam held a workshop in the northern mountainous province on August 21, to launch the Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) project.

 

Source: VNA