Viet Nam's agricultural extension links up with South-South cooperation

From December 11-12, a delegation from Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry conducted a field visit to cassava farms in Cuanza Sul province. The trip aimed to contribute to the finalization of a proposed technical assistance project for sustainable agroforestry development in Angola.

Viet Nam's agricultural extension experience, forged over decades of food security strategy and agricultural development, is now considered a model standard. From a nation facing famine after the war, Viet Nam has risen to become one of the world's leading agricultural export powerhouses. This success is significantly contributed by the Vietnamese agricultural extension system.

Today, the Vietnamese agricultural extension model not only serves domestic needs but is also reaching out internationally, becoming a prominent example for South-South cooperation, particularly in supporting developing countries, including African nations such as Angola.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, commented: "Viet Nam's agricultural extension does not just teach how to grow crops, but also transfers the mindset of efficient, low-cost, and adaptive production. This is the key to helping our partner countries build self-reliant and sustainable agriculture."

Since the 1990s, Viet Nam has sent thousands of experts to Africa to transfer techniques for growing rice, maize, vegetables, fruits, and aquaculture. Over the past nearly 30 years, more than 12 African countries have received support, helping to increase crop yields by 2 to 4 times, contributing significantly to ensuring food security. These efforts are not only humanitarian but also affirm the position of Viet Nam's agricultural extension system on the international stage, ranging from transferring "hand-holding" techniques to building sustainable models.

Angola is one of Viet Nam's leading partners in Africa. Following the official visit by State President Luong Cuong in August 2025, the relationship between the two countries has grown increasingly strong. During talks with Angolan President João Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, the two sides signed the Action Plan for Agricultural Cooperation for the 2025-2026 period.

Although it is a resource-rich nation, Angola's agricultural sector is undergoing a reconstruction process after years of conflict. Therefore, the Angolan side proposed that Vietnam support its sustainable agricultural development through production organization, technology transfer, capacity building training, and the establishment of raw material areas. Viet Nam committed to sharing experience and providing maximum support for these proposals through South-South cooperation, with the Vietnamese Agricultural Extension system playing a connecting role.

From its domestic agricultural extension system to its international outreach, Viet Nam affirms its leading role in global agricultural cooperation. Through South-South cooperation and support for Africa, especially Angola, Viet Nam's agricultural extension system not only shares its achievements but also contributes to building a more sustainable agricultural sector. In the future, with specific plans, this expansion will continue to bring benefits to both Vietnam and its partners.

From December 9 to 14, 2025, a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment visited and worked with Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The working trip was conducted with a more decisive, in-depth, and substantive spirit compared to previous occasions. In response, Minister Isaac Maria dos Anjos demonstrated a strong commitment, creating a new impetus for the bilateral cooperation process. Angola continues to affirm its role as a key partner in Vietnam's expansion of South-South cooperation in Africa. The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination, particularly in the sustainable development of wood and cassava raw material areas.