Quality first to boost agricultural exports

On the morning of April 9, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment met with the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM) to review recent performance and outline priorities for the period ahead.

According to Hung, the fields of quality management, processing and market development span a wide scope, directly affecting farmers, businesses, local authorities and the entire value chain. As such, an approach focused solely on administrative functions, such as inspections, supervision and regulatory issuance, is no longer sufficient to meet practical demands.

He urged a decisive shift toward a development-oriented governance model, placing farmers and businesses at the center. This requires not only fulfilling assigned tasks but also proactively identifying issues, providing timely policy advice, coordinating effectively and focusing on tangible outcomes, supporting farmers, resolving business bottlenecks and expanding market access.

Hung emphasized that quality, food safety, processing and market development are not isolated stages but are closely linked to primary production, raw material zones, product standards and overall competitiveness. If any link in the chain fails, farmers ultimately bear the consequences.

In the current context of rapidly evolving technology, shifting markets and increasingly stringent import standards, traditional approaches are no longer adequate. He warned that delays, slow responses or confusion in adapting to new requirements could erode the agricultural sector’s competitive advantage.

“As a state management body, functions, responsibilities and accountability must be clearly defined,” Hung said, noting that overlapping responsibilities and unclear coordination mechanisms still persist. Without clear delineation, work can be delayed, neglected or handled ineffectively.

He therefore called for a comprehensive review of all tasks, with clear classification of responsibilities, lead agencies, coordinating units, expected outputs and timelines. Each task must be tied to specific accountability, following the principle of “clear roles, clear tasks, clear responsibility and clear outcomes.”

Effective coordination mechanisms are essential, he added. Issues affecting farmers and businesses cannot be addressed in a fragmented manner. Poor coordination can prolong resolution times and directly impact both governance efficiency and production activities.

Hung also underscored the critical role of quality and processing in increasing the value of agricultural products. Focusing solely on production without improving post-harvest handling, preservation and processing will limit value addition and undermine export sustainability. By contrast, effective processing can extend shelf life, diversify products, expand markets and reduce pressure to sell raw commodities.

Food safety management must be continuous and substantive, focusing on risk prevention rather than reactive measures. Quality management should aim to genuinely improve product standards and build the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural goods.

On market development, Hung stressed the need to closely monitor supply-demand dynamics, import policies, consumer trends and emerging technical requirements. Authorities must proactively provide policy advice, issue early warnings and support businesses in adjusting strategies, rather than leaving them to react after problems arise.

At the meeting, Director Ngo Hong Phong reported persistent bottlenecks in the current system. While management responsibilities along value chains are generally defined, in practice some production facilities remain subject to oversight by multiple agencies, leading to inconsistent control and reduced effectiveness.

The legal framework and technical standards also have limitations, with some regulations outdated and misaligned with international standards or market requirements. Reviews and updates have been slow, even as technical barriers continue to rise.

Agricultural supply chains are expanding rapidly but lack sustainability. The share of production meeting standards or organized in value chains remains low, and quality and food safety are not consistently ensured. Notably, Vietnamese agricultural products still lack strong international branding.

Processing capacity has yet to keep pace with production growth, with post-harvest losses remaining high. Digital transformation is still in its early stages, with fragmented infrastructure and data systems. Meanwhile, export markets face increasing protectionism and stricter standards, while forecasting and policy responses have at times been reactive rather than proactive.

In response, Hung called for a comprehensive review of all legal documents related to quality, processing and market development. New regulations must be practical, clear and aligned with real-world conditions, ensuring that local authorities and businesses can implement them effectively.

He emphasized that management effectiveness should be measured not by the number of issued regulations but by actual outcomes. This requires close monitoring of implementation, strengthened inspections and regular evaluations to allow timely adjustments. The approach must shift toward “seeing things through to ensure real effectiveness.”

On human resources, Hung urged a reassessment of staffing across functional areas to ensure the right people are assigned to the right roles, alongside enhanced training and capacity building. Policy advisory work, market monitoring and quality control require different skill sets and cannot be handled uniformly.

“The decisive factor remains people and their work ethic,” he said, calling for an end to superficial, passive or evasive working practices. Officials must take initiative, actively research, propose solutions and identify issues, rather than waiting for assignments.

Hung tasked the authority with developing a concrete action plan with measurable outcomes aligned with key priorities in the coming period, stressing that this phase requires significant transformation in both mindset and implementation.