The opening of the 8th Vietnam Farmers' Union Congress on December 26, 2023 (photo: VGP)

Vietnam has advantages in agricultural development. Over the past years, Vietnamese agriculture has recorded major achievements and rapid growth.

Agriculture continues to be as a pillar of the Vietnamese economy

In 2023, agriculture will continue to affirm its important position as a pillar of the Vietnamese economy, ensuring food security, major balances of the economy, and macroeconomic stability.

Despite several difficulties and challenges, Vietnam’s agriculture grew 3.83%, the highest growth rate in recent years. Agricultural export turnover totaled 53 billion USD and the agricultural trade surplus recorded 11 billion USD, accounting for 42.5% of the national trade surplus. The exports of vegetables, fruits and rice achieved record growths this year with fruit and vegetable export turnover reaching up to 5.5-5.8 billion USD, up 80-90% from last year.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan attributed the success to production restructuring.

“Switching from an agricultural production mindset to an agricultural economy mindset is shifting from single-value growth to multi-value growth. We are confident in production restructuring. For example, Vietnamese rice is now available in the most demanding markets, such as Japan, the US, and the European Union. If we want to create value for the future, we must restructure sectors and increase value per unit area,” said Hoan.

Farmers are masters of agricultural development and rural economy

Vietnam’s agricultural achievements in recent years have been due to the farmers’ efforts. The farmers are the masters and the center of agricultural development.

Now that Vietnam is shifting from agricultural production to an agricultural economy, clean production and green growth are unavoidable trends and the role of farmers is increasingly important.

At the 8th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: “The Communist Party of Vietnam has determined that ‘agriculture, farmers, and rural areas are three elements that are closely associated, closely linked, and inseparable. They play a very important role in national innovation, construction, and defense’. Farmers and rural areas have strategic positions in national industrialization and modernization."

Mr. Trong emphasized: "The Farmers’ Union at all levels must rally farmers to build new rural areas and new rural models, apply technology, and promote their role as the center of agricultural development and the rural economy. For ‘ecological agriculture, modern countryside, civilized farmers’ to become a reality will require determination, consensus, and the participation of the entire system and society, with the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the farmers’ class playing a direct, pivotal role.”

Vietnam has opportunities for innovative, comprehensive, and impressive development in line with the global trend of green consumption. Vietnamese agriculture and farmers continue to assert their important role in building an ecological agriculture and modern rural areas.