 The International Support Group’s Plenary Meeting for 2020 in Hanoi. (Photo: VGP) |
The meeting adopted a joint statement on “Vietnam’s agriculture and rural development cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic” to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development.
Delegates shared research results on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the production of farm households; agricultural enterprises; the disruption in the agro-commodity supply chain; environmental hazards and national as well as global food security issues.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said Vietnam has set a target of realizing the government’s dual goals of containing the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting economic development. Vietnam has to date basically controlled the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam’s agricultural and rural sector will continue to restructure and apply advanced technologies, attract investment from both domestic and foreign sources, and take advantage of free trade deals. This will improve connection in the export value chains of agro-forestry and aquaculture products, to raise Vietnam’s prestige in the supply chains, and increase domestic agricultural products’ competitiveness.
“The meeting is an opportunity for us to adopt new resources and technologies, including smart agriculture to adapt to climate change and digital transformation as foundation for in-depth agricultural development and effective agricultural restructuring. This is also a chance for us to improve our human resources for the agricultural sector to further integrate into the global economy. Along with international partners and donors, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have issued an 18-point joint statement on this matter. We’ll soon work with partners to complete agricultural development programs and projects,” said Mr. Doanh.
United Nations Development Program Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen praised Vietnam’s efforts in COVID-19 response, saying the country’s agricultural achievements have contributed to ensuring global food security.
She added that the UNDP is transferring to Vietnam programs on mitigating risks caused by natural calamities and adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while giving farmers, small and medium sized enterprises and collectives more options related to their businesses.