HCMC signs agreement on developing modern and sustainable agriculture

On July 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association signed a cooperation program to implement Action Program No. 19-CTrHĐ/TU issued by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on agriculture, farmers, and rural development.

Under the signed program, the two sides agreed to strengthen communication, mobilization, and support for farmers in developing the rural economy and building new-style rural areas in association with agricultural restructuring for the 2026-2030 period. The program aims to develop modern, market-oriented agriculture that integrates multiple values, accelerate digital transformation, and improve the incomes and living standards of rural residents.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Van Da, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized the need to develop modern and ecological urban agriculture through the strong application of science and technology and digital transformation, with farmers placed at the center of the development process.

According to Mr. Da, effective implementation of Action Program No. 19 of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee requires close coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association in communication, advocacy, and the dissemination and implementation of policies and guidelines among farmers and association members.

Notably, the 2026–2030 cooperation program identifies key tasks to enhance the competitiveness of the city’s agricultural sector. The two agencies will work together to support farmers in applying high technology, ecological agriculture, and circular economy models; expanding areas of biotechnology-based and smart agriculture; and developing concentrated livestock production zones and aquaculture areas toward biosafety, VietGAP standards, and climate change adaptation.

The program will also promote digital transformation in agriculture through the development of databases on cultivation areas, digital maps of production zones, electronic traceability systems, and support for farmers to apply digital platforms and e-commerce in production management and agricultural product distribution. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City will continue expanding the issuance of production area codes, building agricultural product brands, and strengthening supervision of agricultural inputs to improve product quality and meet export requirements.

In the coming period, the two sides will focus on developing the collective economy and establishing value chain-based production linkages among farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises. They will support the development of OCOP products, promote rural tourism, and encourage multi-value agricultural economic models associated with ecotourism, experiential tourism, and landscape conservation.

Another highlight of the program is the goal of building a new generation of farmers equipped with knowledge, skills, and professional expertise, capable of applying science and technology and proactively integrating into the international market. The two agencies will coordinate in organizing vocational training, specialized capacity-building programs, agricultural forums, trade promotion activities, and recognition of outstanding farmers in production and business to create broader impacts within the community.

In particular, Ho Chi Minh City will study the development of a high-tech aquaculture agricultural zone in Can Gio Commune, expand the existing High-Tech Agricultural Park in Cu Chi Commune, and develop a large-scale, modern fisheries logistics hub to enhance the added value of the agricultural sector. The city also aims to expand international cooperation, organize ASEAN+ farmer exchange activities, strengthen connectivity, and promote local agricultural products in regional and global markets.

Mr. Nguyen Van Da expressed his expectation that the cooperation program would soon be translated into practical action plans, delivering direct benefits to residents and improving agricultural production efficiency.

"The value of a cooperation program does not lie in the number of pages in the document or the volume of signed commitments, but in the tangible results it brings to people. I hope that after this conference, the program will soon be concretized through effective linkage models, better-performing cooperatives, and more farmers confidently applying science, technology, and digital transformation in production," Mr. Da emphasized.

Mr. Truong Thanh Quang, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association, said that following the expansion of the city’s administrative boundaries, agriculture, farmers, and rural development in Ho Chi Minh City now encompass many new areas, requiring the two agencies to closely coordinate and synchronously implement the agreed tasks.

The Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association requested that, immediately after the signing ceremony, specialized units of both sides promptly review areas of cooperation, develop annual implementation plans, and clearly define specific tasks, timelines, responsibilities, and expected outcomes to ensure effective implementation of the program through 2030.

"Once we have signed the agreement, we must clearly define our coordination responsibilities and demonstrate strong determination to successfully implement the agreed contents. It is necessary to soon develop specific action plans, assign clear responsibilities, timelines, and expected results so that the cooperation program can truly deliver practical outcomes," Mr. Truong Thanh Quang stressed.