MARD commits to accompany with FAO

Minister Le Minh Hoan said at the event that Vietnam has long regarded the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) as a primary partner among the United Nations' technical cooperation agencies and international organizations concerned with agriculture and rural development.

Vietnam's agriculture is experiencing a transformation in terms of development model, moving from production agriculture to economic agriculture. The agriculture industry provides around 15% to the national GDP but is critical in maintaining food security and providing livelihoods for over 60% of the rural population.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is designing a strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural development by 2030, with a vision to 2050. This is the first time the agriculture sector has a long-term plan or a way to transcend short-term thinking in order to accomplish a longer-term vision while adapting to climate change, market fluctuations, and changing global trends in an age of dominant green growth.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, Vietnam's participation in the United Nations Summit on the Food System in September 2021 demonstrates its commitment to transforming and developing the food system in the direction of transparency, responsibility, and sustainability.

Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim addressed the world's current concerns at the discussion, which included population increase, environmental degradation, and climate change, among others. As a consequence, FAO intends to assist nations in transforming their agricultural output in an effective and comprehensive way that increases climate change adaptation, improves food security, environment, and people's livelihoods, and ensures that no one is left behind.

In Vietnam, one of FAO's primary responsibilities is to give technical help to farmers' groups, cooperatives, and others in order to reform and alter agricultural systems. Vietnam's agriculture has made many achievements in the field of production; nevertheless, it is vital to remain attentive and put a greater focus on quality and safety. According to the FAO representative, the two sides will collaborate on building One Health program; climate, environment, and management of natural resources, as well as food system transformation.

Minister Le Minh Hoan lauded the collaboration between FAO and MARD, stating that joint projects have resulted in several excellent outcomes for both parties. The ministry is dedicated to advancing ideas under the three pillars of collaboration established by FAO, and MARD will ensure that this program advances efficiently.

A portion of the agricultural - rural region, including land and people, will be changed to serve industrialization and modernization under the development trend. The Minister asked for help from the FAO in transforming the rice-based model into a more multi-value integrated ecological agriculture, with the objective of reducing the extent of each agricultural region while boosting its value.

Additionally, Minister Le Minh Hoan requested that the FAO continue to assist the implementation of the "One Health" cooperation provisions. In particular, the Minister urged the FAO, via its experts, to boost communication and training for farmers on how to approach farming holistically through a plant health lens.

MARD requires FAO's introduction to resources and partners for model creation and advising technical help in order to pursue an ecological agricultural strategy that encompasses majors in crop production, animal husbandry, and fisheries.

For South-South cooperation, Vietnam is willing to participate in cooperation with a source of experienced agricultural experts. Vietnam wants FAO to act as a bridge to mobilize finance to help experts make demonstration models and share experiences with African countries.