FAO proposes enhancing early warning capabilities for disasters

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep affirmed the shared mission of FAO and Viet Nam on food security, emphasizing that farmers should benefit more, with higher incomes and improved, more sustainable livelihoods. He also acknowledged and expressed gratitude to FAO and other United Nations agencies for accompanying and supporting Viet Nam in numerous important programs.

FAO is an active partner within the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP). According to the Deputy Minister, through major natural disasters in recent years, the coordination mechanisms under this partnership have functioned effectively, providing timely support to affected communities.

According to information from the meeting, the VDDMA is currently coordinating with FAO’s Asia-Pacific regional office and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to prepare the project “Enhancing community resilience through early action in Viet Nam.”

The Deputy Minister emphasized that FAO’s experience in implementing early action programs is highly significant.

Accordingly, Deputy Minister Hiep proposed that the project focus on three main groups of solutions. First, raising awareness and enhancing the skills of communities and local authorities in risk management and disaster response. Second, providing livelihood training and developing sustainable agricultural models to help people adapt better to climate change and natural disasters. Third, strengthening the application of digital technology in data analysis to support disaster forecasting and early warning systems.

Deputy Minister also noted that forecasting still faces significant challenges, particularly in accurately predicting rainfall. Therefore, enhancing forecasting and early warning capacities is a major priority ahead of the rainy and storm seasons.

He further emphasized that natural disasters are occurring more frequently and in increasingly abnormal ways. In recent days, many northern mountainous provinces have experienced unusual hailstorms, causing substantial damage to agricultural production. Each year, May marks the beginning of the flood season, necessitating early, proactive preparedness measures.

Another issue highlighted by the Deputy Minister is the balance between energy security and water security for agricultural production. Currently, hydropower accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s total electricity output. During peak electricity generation periods, hydropower plants must increase output, which can lead to a shortage of water for farming. Therefore, careful planning and coordination are needed to ensure both energy security and an adequate water supply.

FAO Representative in Viet Nam, Vinod Ahuja, acknowledged the proposals put forward by the Deputy Minister for the project and expressed hope that several regional programs on forecasting and early warning will be implemented in Viet Nam in the near future.

FAO will focus more on the area of water resource management, including transboundary water management and supporting the development of water policy frameworks. According to FAO Viet Nam Representative Vinod Ahuja, water is one of the most important resources for production and people’s livelihoods.

The two sides also discussed directions for building livable rural areas, developing rural and eco-tourism linked to craft villages and traditional products.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep noted that Viet Nam currently has over 10 million farming households, roughly half of which have unstable agricultural incomes. Therefore, promoting sustainable livelihoods, diversifying income sources, reducing dependence on imported inputs, and developing agricultural production models better adapted to climate change are key priorities in future cooperation between Viet Nam and FAO.

Since 2022, FAO has successfully coordinated early action drills based on storm and flood forecasts in the provinces prior to merger: Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Hue. Early action measures included cash and in-kind assistance to residents in Quang Tri and Hue (Storm NORU, valued at VND 500 million); Hue City (VND 1.3 billion); and Ca Mau (VND 5.5 billion). And, develop reference materials and training programs on integrating early action based on disaster forecasts into community-based disaster risk management.

In 2025, FAO provided agricultural inputs worth over VND 3.7 billion to 1,196 households in Lang Son Province, and cash support totaling more than VND 11.4 billion to over 3,300 households in Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces.

*$ 1 = VND 26,150 (source: Vietcombank).