When asked about his impressions of the outstanding Vietnamese farmers and typical cooperatives nationwide that will be honored and commended at the 2024 Vietnamese Farmers' Pride Program, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that from the bottom of his heart, he would like to send his sincere thanks to them, the farmers who are at the forefront of the agricultural sector's transformation.
Dear Minister, at the Pride of Vietnamese Farmers Program, for the first time, the President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will co-chair a dialogue and listen to farmers speak at the 9th National Farmers' Forum. What does the Minister expect from this Forum?
-First of all, I would like to thank Comrade Luong Quoc Doan, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, for having the idea to co-chair the National Farmers' Forum with me to listen to farmers speak. To be honest, the process of preparing the Forum has brought me many emotions, because for the first time through the forum, Comrade Chairman Luong Quoc Doan and I will be able to sit with the people, discuss, meet and exchange sincerely with the farmers.
I have also studied the recommendations sent to the Forum through many channels, we have seen the concerns and enthusiasm of the people for agricultural production, with the problems arising in production practices. We will listen sincerely, discuss sincerely to propose solutions to develop agriculture and rural areas, improve farmers' lives, contribute to realizing the goals of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress: farmers are the center, the subject in the process of restructuring agriculture, building new rural areas.
In Resolution 19, the 5th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee also clearly identified 3 elements: ecological agriculture, civilized farmers, and modern countryside. I think the first solution to achieve this goal is to improve farmers' capacity so that they can assume the central position and be the subject.
Therefore, as an agricultural manager, I need to listen and discuss with the people to find solutions. Through the forum, there can be changes in mechanisms and policies for agriculture and rural areas; changes in programs and plans of the Farmers' Association; people will also gradually change their production methods. Only when farmers change will agriculture change.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan visited the high-tech shrimp farming area of Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhu in Bao Thanh commune, Ba Tri district ( Ben Tre ). Mr. Nhu is an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2024. Photo: NVCC.
One of the issues that many farmers are concerned about today is green production and circular agricultural production. As someone who is close to the grassroots, how does the Minister assess the initiative of farmers with these new production models?
-In the history of the development of the Vietnamese people, it is the farmers who have contributed to the miracle of the agricultural sector, turning Vietnam from a poor country into a world food exporting powerhouse, not only ensuring domestic food security but also contributing to the global food system in the context of climate change and extreme weather. Therefore, I believe, the farmers are also the ones who will reposition the agricultural sector with new production models.
I have been to many regions, from the Northwest, Northeast to the coast, the delta and have seen many very creative models of farmers, from traditional production to circular agriculture, clean agriculture and recently, emission reduction agriculture, multi-value integrated natural agriculture such as rice - fish, rice - earthworm - clam, etc.
When talking to people through Zalo group, I was really surprised by the changes of farmers and professional farmer associations. Those models may not be popular yet, but ministries, organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Farmers' Association, and media agencies use those factors to spread. Farmers like to see and hear, our task is to gather people in the fields and fish ponds of those who went before so that they can ask the question: Why with the same production mechanism, the same sky and earth, did someone rise up to become rich? At that time, those who witnessed it will have more motivation to change their hands, minds, aspirations, will, and determination because there were farmers who failed but they did not give up and started over.
The task of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vietnam Farmers' Union is to summarize practical models into lessons. Practice is vivid, instead of pulling, we push people up by policy mechanisms, by intellectualizing farmers, and connecting markets.
I think that the 9th National Farmers' Forum is also a great opportunity to listen, spread and inspire people because there are farmers like that, outstanding factors like that present in the capital Hanoi on October 14.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan (Lung Lon Hamlet, Kien Binh Commune, Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province), Director of Tuan Linh Private Enterprise - Farm is an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2024. Mr. Tuan was mobilized by the Farmers' Association to participate in the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice. Photo: Hong Cam.
It can be said that the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Mekong Delta is a typical model of green, low-emission agriculture. The initial effectiveness has been proven. According to the Minister, besides rice, can we replicate the model in other crops?
-The project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice aims to open up an agricultural economy that reduces emissions and adapts to climate change. From 1 million hectares of rice in the Mekong Delta, it will be multiplied nationwide, then from rice it can be transferred to other cropping sectors, then from cropping to livestock and aquaculture. Because in reality, in the agricultural sector, only the forestry sector is absorbing emissions, while other sectors are emitting large amounts of emissions. Our task is to make forestry continue to absorb emissions better while other sectors reduce emissions more.
The project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice is also to reposition Vietnam's rice production process, how to spend less to get more. The project guides farmers to understand how to produce with less input and higher output, which means improving the quality of rice grains, recycling straw waste, and creating an economic sector beyond rice grains.
In my opinion, the Farmers' Association branches and the agricultural extension force of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must be the ones to spread the model. I will discuss with the leaders of the Vietnam Farmers' Association to make the Farmers' Association branch officers also become agricultural extension officers, two colors but two in one so that people can trust both the Association officers and the agricultural extension officers.
Not only reorganizing the rice industry, I also expect to reorganize farmers, form cooperatives, and agricultural extension forces to accompany people in production. And I think that the role of the Vietnam Farmers' Union in this project is very important, as the core force to mobilize people to participate. Both units, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vietnam Farmers' Union, wear the colors of the agricultural sector to reposition production.
A corner of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan's field.
One of the main events of the Vietnamese Farmers' Pride Program is the ceremony to honor and award titles to 63 outstanding Vietnamese farmers and to commend 63 exemplary cooperatives. If speaking about them, what would the Minister say?
-I want to thank the pioneering farmers, because it is only those who are pioneering, who dare to overcome difficulties, who dare to overcome adversity, that have today's agricultural picture. I know, there are farmers who choose a new path and are doubted by their families and relatives, even scolded for "going crazy", but they still overcome, approach new thinking, new models. I consider that bravery.
Indeed, the portraits of those farmers have inspired me, as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. They are also the ones who inspire other farmers. Therefore, the honoring does not stop at praising their production and business achievements but also honoring their journey, honoring the image of farmers who have overcome in the process of transforming the agricultural sector.
Thank you, Minister!
Source: https://danviet.vn/bo-truong-bo-nnptnt-le-minh-hoan-xin-cam-on-nhung-nong-dan-di-dau-trong-qua-trinh-chuyen-doi-nganh-nong-nghiep-20241013105439329.htm
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