Four proposals to further strengthen Viet Nam - Japan agricultural cooperation

On October 20 in Tokyo, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam led a delegation from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on a working visit to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), where he was received by Deputy Minister Watanabe Yoichi.

This visit marked an important step in promptly implementing the contents of the “Medium- and long-term vision for Viet Nam-Japan agricultural cooperation, phase III (2025 - 2030),” which the two ministers signed on September 4, 2025.

Developing a modern agricultural workforce

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam proposed that the Japanese side support the establishment of a data center. The goal was to serve the “one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030” program. This center would provide a platform for managing data related to measurements, emission monitoring indicators, and product standards. It would also strengthen management, certification, and traceability within the rice value chain, which is in line with the vision jointly signed by the two ministries.

Under the second pillar of cooperation, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam expressed the hope that MAFF would share experiences and coordinate in training agricultural extension officers and cooperative leaders toward modern management, digital application, and sustainable value chain development. “A high-quality human resource base is the core factor for sustainable agricultural development and international integration,” he said.

Accordingly, Viet Nam proposed a bilateral cooperation program titled “Enhancing the value of selected agricultural value chains through strengthening cooperative management capacity and the agricultural extension system using VietSHEP and digital technologies.” The program is expected to pilot in key value chains, such as banana, pineapple, poultry, and aquaculture; establish a national VietSHEP framework; create a shared digital platform for cooperatives; train 3,000 agricultural extension officers by 2030; and support 500 cooperatives in the management and development of their value chains.

Enhancing trade and cooperation in science and technology

Both sides expressed interest in strengthening agricultural trade cooperation. Viet Nam and Japan will work together to accelerate market access for Vietnamese pomelo and Japanese grapes as soon as possible. As for the next step, the two countries will continue to address technical barriers and expand to other promising products such as Vietnamese passion fruit, peaches and Japanese pufferfish.

According to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, Viet Nam is prioritizing advanced technologies for production management, traceability, and rice product trade through digital platforms; utilization of by-products such as straw, husk, and bran to optimize resources and reduce emissions; processing, preservation, and mechanization for the rice sector; and advanced cultivation methods like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation.

Regarding cooperation in science and technology, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment advanced the idea that Japan facilitate investment and technology transfer to develop high-quality, low-emission rice regions associated with green growth.

After listening to the Vietnamese side's suggestions, Deputy Minister Watanabe Yoichi concluded that both sides should strengthen cooperation in implementing the “Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)” and the “Midori Plan,” which fosters cooperation projects by utilizing Japanese technology and sharing experience to build resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

“Viet Nam is currently developing a decree on the international exchange of greenhouse gas emission reduction outcomes and carbon credits. The goal is to provide a legal basis for JCM implementation. Once issued, Viet Nam will prioritize cooperation with Japan in emission-reduction technologies, enterprise capacity building, and fulfillment of international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change,” said Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam.

The specific directions discussed by the two sides, from human resource training, technology transfer, agricultural product trade to data infrastructure development and carbon credits, show that the Viet Nam-Japan agricultural relationship is moving towards a strategic partnership on low-emission agriculture, climate change adaptation, and green growth, serving the interests of the people of the two countries.