Agriculture and Environment sector accelerates in Q2 to sustain growth momentum

On April 2, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) held a Q1 review conference and outlined key tasks for Q2 2026. The conference was chaired by Politburo Member and Minister Tran Duc Thang and Standing Deputy Minister Trinh Viet Hung.

The conference was attended by Deputy Ministers Nguyen Hoang Hiep; Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa; Phung Duc Tien; Le Cong Thanh; Nguyen Quoc Tri; and Vo Van Hung, as well as leaders of affiliated units. The event was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation.

At the conference, units under the Ministry reported on the implementation of tasks in Q1/2026, while frankly pointing out bottlenecks in managing natural resources, land, fisheries, food safety, and the environment. On that basis, the Ministry’s leaders and Deputy Ministers issued a series of decisive directives to ensure that growth goes hand in hand with risk control.

Notable developments in key sectors

Reports from the units outlined an overall picture featuring multiple bright spots alongside significant challenges. In the minerals sector, the Ministry has completed the National Strategy on Rare Earths, while planning work, including the bauxite planning, is being finalized.

In the fisheries sector, seafood output rose by 3.2% in Q1 2026, with export value increasing by 13.3%. Activities related to resource regeneration, patrol, and control have been implemented in a synchronized manner. However, recommendations from the European Commission (EC) continue to set stricter requirements on fishing vessel monitoring, traceability, and violation handling.

The land sector has recorded progress in developing the national land database, with the issuance of Circular No. 19 to streamline procedures and ensure process alignment. The national land use plan is expected to be submitted to the Government in May. Amendments to the Land Law are currently under preparation.  Although the timeline has been extended to 2027, Standing Deputy Minister Trinh Viet Hung urged specialized units under the Department of Land Administration to continue making implementation efforts.

In the livestock sector, the consumption of diseased pigs in Hanoi remains a "hotspot." Leaders of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health said that while regulations are in place, local implementation still faces many shortcomings, particularly complicity and lax management at certain stages.

Meanwhile, the environment sector focuses on amending the Law on Environmental Protection toward strong reforms, with a projected 90% reduction in procedures related to environmental impact assessment and licensing. Monitoring and inspection activities will be intensified.

The crop production sector reported growth of 2.5%, with export turnover reaching USD 8.92 billion, up 4.1%. Tasks related to standards, market development, and digital transformation continue to be accelerated.

Proactive disaster response, no waiting until the last minute

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep highlighted the risk of drought and water shortages amid low rainfall, which could affect hydropower generation and production activities. He requested relevant units to proactively adjust water use plans to ensure energy security.

The overarching spirit emphasized a shift from a passive to a proactive approach in disaster prevention and control. Sectors such as livestock, fisheries, and crop production are required to conduct comprehensive reviews ahead of the upcoming storm season.

At the same time, there is a need to accelerate the application of science and technology and digital transformation in management and governance; strengthen cooperation with experts to address major problems. The restructuring of public service units must also be completed within the first half of the year to ensure organizational stability and staff morale.

Stepping up environmental reform and climate change adaptation

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh requested specialized units to focus on comprehensive reforms in environmental protection. He stressed the importance of accessing international models, including China’s experience in tackling air pollution.

A highlight is stronger decentralization to reduce administrative procedures and accelerate project implementation. At the same time, appropriate management mechanisms must be developed for new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to ensure transparency and data security.

In terms of climate change response, developing a carbon market has been identified as a key task for the year. Preparations for the storm season also need to be carefully planned, especially with regard to power supply regulation.

Tightening discipline to prevent prolonged violations in the fisheries sector

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that it is essential to tighten management in seafood exploitation. Although 3,100 violating vessels have been removed and monitoring and traceability systems have been put in place, violating foreign waters persist, requiring more synchronous and drastic solutions.

In the field of food safety, he noted that the Law needs to be revised to better align with practical realities, while inspections at the distribution and consumption stages must be strengthened. Human resource and staffing pressure also remain a major challenge.

Regarding exports, although growth reached 5.9% in the first three months of the year, the upward trend is showing signs of slowing. The Ministry needs to soon develop response scenarios while expanding markets such as Europe and South Korea.

With respect to science and technology, the Deputy Minister highlighted the lack of practical application and weak linkages among scientists, managers, and enterprises, calling for increased investment and stronger coordination to translate research outcomes into practice.

The conference indicated that the MAE’s management areas are becoming more synchronized, from natural resources and land to agriculture and environment. However, issues such as fisheries violations, food safety, and the pace of institutional reform continue to pose significant challenges. The overarching message is the need for swift action, strict discipline, and enhanced enforcement, as sustainable growth can only be achieved through effective governance.

Q2 is the decisive acceleration phase for the Agriculture and Environment sector

In his concluding remarks, Politburo Member and Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang affirmed that the conference had completed its full agenda, with many dedicated and responsible contributions from units, along with close direction from the Ministry’s leadership.

Reviewing Q1 2026, Minister Tran Duc Thang noted that despite continued complex developments in the global and regional landscape, particularly political conflicts and shifts in trade policies, the agriculture and environment sector still achieved a number of significant results.

However, the Minister also frankly pointed out several shortcomings. Specifically, forecasting and policy responses in some areas remain passive; the revision and supplementation of institutions and policies have been slow; and the quality of advisory work and coordination among units has at times fallen short of requirements. In addition, research and proposals for strategic technologies remain limited.

Regarding production and exports, the Minister noted that Q1 data showed unusual developments. January recorded good performance; February saw strong growth, but March experienced a marked decline. If this trend is not promptly addressed,  it will be difficult to achieve growth targets.

Nevertheless, with the sector’s GDP growth estimated at 3.5%–3.7%, Q1 has basically achieved the set targets. However, to fulfill the 2026 annual targets, particularly as the Government has set a double-digit growth goal for the 2026–2030 period, Q2 is of special significance and serves as a phase of comprehensive acceleration.

Key task groups for Q2

To achieve these objectives, Minister Tran Duc Thang called on the entire sector to focus on the following major task groups:

First, restructuring the sector in association with renewing the growth model. The Minister requested units to review growth potential and clearly identify areas with greater capacity. In production, the orientation should be toward being “most abundant, cleanest, most cost-efficient, and highest quality.” For supporting sectors such as processing and markets, efficiency must be improved to enhance export value and build brands.

Second, building brands and complying with standards and regulations. This includes accelerating the development of brands for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products by commodity group while finalizing standards, particularly those related to food safety, and ensuring that all tasks within the Ministry’s management functions are carried out without delay.

Third, supporting enterprises and citizens in stabilizing production. Amid rising fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict, the Ministry has called on businesses not to squeeze purchasing prices and even to raise prices to support producers; many input suppliers are committed not to increase prices. These efforts aim to ensure that producers maintain reasonable profits for reinvestment, especially as input costs continue to rise.

Fourth, accelerating digital transformation and developing a data ecosystem are extremely important tasks that lay the foundation for sustainable development. According to the Minister, the Ministry is currently implementing 88 tasks under the Steering Committee, with a total of 241 tasks overall. Once all 12 out of 12 databases are interconnected, the Ministry will announce and hand over the system to the Ministry of Public Security. However, the key requirement is that data must be “accurate, sufficient, clean, live, unified, and shared” to maximize effectiveness.

Fifth, continuing breakthroughs in institutions and administrative procedure reform. Units are required to proactively develop and finalize laws, decrees, and legal documents, while streamlining administrative procedures and business conditions by 30%- 50% to create a favorable environment for enterprises.

In addition, the Minister requested the urgent completion of regulations on the Ministry’s functions and tasks by April, a comprehensive review to address overlaps, and the consolidation of the organizational apparatus alongside staff streamlining.

Furthermore, proactive international integration and the removal of trade barriers were emphasized. The Minister highlighted the need to expand markets and reduce dependence on several traditional markets.

At the same time, it is necessary to promote deep processing of mineral resources to enhance added value. For export activities, the shift from informal to formal channels, along with the implementation of electronic customs clearance, requires units to fully prepare quality inspection conditions and technical infrastructure within Q2.

According to Minister Tran Duc Thang, challenges ahead remain substantial. However, with strong determination and close coordination among units, the entire sector has a basis to fulfill the targets and tasks set for 2026.