On 29th November 2021, IPSARD and the Department of Planning organized the consultation hybrid meeting on the draft of the Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, aimed to get comments from Central Agencies, Ministries, and domestic enterprises in Vietnam. Co-chaired by Minister Le Minh Hoan and Former Minister Cao Duc Phat.

The domestic consultant meeting attracted numerous attention from State agencies (Central Committee’s Economic Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Planning and Investment, etc.), commodity associations (VICOFA, VIPA, VIFORES, Vinafruit, VPA, VFA, etc.), domestic enterprises (TH true milk, Intimex, Dabaco, Simexco, Vinh Hiep, Thai Binh seed, Trung An, Minh Phu etc.), independent agriculture specialist, Institutes and Universities (WASI, Can Tho University, An Giang University, IMARD I, IMARD II, etc.)

After the opening speech by H.E. Minister Le Minh Hoan, and the presentation by Mr Tran Cong Thang, DG of IPSARD on the orientation of sustainable agricultural and rural development for the period of 2021-2030 and a vision to 2050, the participants enthusiastically shared their comments and views on this issue. Mr Nguyen Ngoc Bao, Chairman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA), suggested that the Strategy should pay more attention to the production and national key products that need to be followed along the value chain. Meanwhile, Mr Nguyen Duy Hung, Deputy Head of the Central Committee’s Economic Commission, believed that the agricultural digital transformation is a breakthrough. However, he also expressed concern about the preservation of indigenous culture in the context of digital transformation. Both Former Minister Cao Duc Phat and Former DG of CIEM-Mr Nguyen Dinh Cung recommended that adapting to climate change and developing sustainably, defining goals and solutions, emphasizing exports, changing the mindset towards the farmer should be the main focus of the Strategy.

Regarding solutions for the Strategy, Ms Thai Huong from TH true milk recommended that the Strategy should be disseminated in the provinces. Besides, Mr Bui Ba Bong, Former Deputy Minister of MARD suggested that the Strategy should focus on 3 major breakthroughs: institutions, science and technology, and infrastructure. The investment must be commensurate with the region, and Production needs to be organized in a different and more diverse direction. Mr Hoang Trong Thuy added some points such as the Strategy needs to ensure the supply as well as the quality of agricultural products, focus on training farmers and clarify the national interests so that the farmers and localities could become the driving force to implement this Strategy.

Sharing ideas, Mr Do Ha Nam, General Director of Intimex company concerned about the growth of crops and the harvest forecast. He believed that the Strategy should pay more attention to these 2 issues along with developing the infrastructure to help enterprises in solving logistics problems. Moreover, Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuc, Chairman of Bagico company, emphasized 2 solutions focusing on consumer education and associations building that can represent both enterprise and people. From the forestry point of view, Mr Do Xuan Lap, Chairman of VIFORES, hoped that the Strategy could focus more on the forest land policy of equitization to support forestry enterprises in effectively promoting forest land. Additionally, Mr Tran Manh Bao, Chairman of the Thai Binh Seed company proposed to change the layout of the Strategy towards the goal, rebuilding the agricultural system focusing on 3 chains: supply chain, production chain and value chain. It also should be considered on quantifying agricultural land targets, developing a system of agricultural materials, etc. Finally, to end the discussion, Mr Dang Kim Son, Former DG of IPSARD summarized and proposed some solutions to develop and finalize the Strategy.

The discussion part of the meeting was lively with many insightful comments, clarifying many aspects of the Strategy. The Minister highly appreciated the enthusiasms of participants with full of valuable recommendations and asked the Drafting team to take into account those comments for revision of the Strategy before submitting the Prime Minister for approval.