On November 2nd in Hanoi, the Central Vietnam Farmers’ Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, organized the forum “Vietnam Farmers’ Association Chairman – Minister of Agriculture and Environment Listening to Farmers in 2025” under the theme “Accompanying Farmers into the New Era.”
Farmers Struggle to Restore Production Due to Delayed Support
Several pressing issues in the agricultural sector were raised by farmers and cooperatives, particularly regarding mechanisms to support farmers in restoring production.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Lap, Director of Minh Hai Poultry Cooperative in Hanoi, shared that for two consecutive years, his farm suffered severe damage from storms Yagi in 2024 and storms No. 10 and 11 this year, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of poultry and losses amounting to tens of billions of VND. The biggest challenge, however, lies in the cumbersome procedures for receiving support, loans, or debt restructuring, which require farmers to obtain various provincial-level damage confirmation documents and proposals from the Provincial People’s Committee.
Mr. Lap questioned: “Does the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) have any solutions to help farmers access capital and post-disaster support more quickly and efficiently? Additionally, what measures are in place to improve agricultural infrastructure, such as investing in irrigation systems, dikes, and drainage canals, as central provinces are currently struggling against floods?”
Mr. Nguyen Duc Lap – Director of Minh Hai Poultry Cooperative (Hanoi).
Responding to this, a representative from the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that they would coordinate with the State Bank and relevant agencies to find solutions, ensuring that residents can access appropriate support policies in compliance with legal regulations.
Currently, the MAE has also advised the Government to amend and supplement Decree 02 on post-disaster damage support. A key update in this decree is the increase in support levels by 1 to 2 times, or even 3 times compared to previous regulations, along with the elimination of many redundant administrative procedures, making it easier for farmers to access support.
Regarding investment in disaster prevention infrastructure, dikes, and irrigation, the representative from the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control noted that in the medium-term investment plan for 2021-2025, the MAE has been allocated 46,000 billion VND specifically for disaster prevention, dyke management, and irrigation.
“The Ministry has also reported to the Government and proposed an additional 85,000 billion VND for the 2026-2030 period to continue upgrading the dyke system, reservoirs, and canals serving agricultural production and reducing disaster risks,” the representative added.
Further elaborating, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang mentioned that since the beginning of the year, natural disasters have claimed nearly 300 lives and caused significant economic losses across various sectors.
Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang and Chairman of the Farmers’ Association Luong Quoc Doan chaired the forum.
The General Secretary and Prime Minister have clearly identified the urgency of the issue and directed the MAE and relevant ministries to prioritize resource allocation and develop a comprehensive, long-term program for disaster prevention, response, and recovery. However, Minister Thang emphasized that natural disasters are global phenomena occurring unexpectedly in various locations and times, requiring substantial resources and long-term efforts to establish a complete and synchronized disaster prevention infrastructure system.
“Under current conditions, we must excel in forecasting and early warning to help people and local authorities proactively respond and minimize human and property losses,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
Intense Competition in Cold-Water Fish Market
At the forum, Mr. Tran Chung Hung, an outstanding farmer of 2023 from Sa Pa (Lao Cai), shared his model of raising sturgeon and salmon in cold water across an 8-hectare area with 5 farms and over 100 tanks for commercial and breeding fish.
However, Mr. Hung expressed concern about the intense competition in the cold-water fish market from sturgeon imported from China, while domestic breeding sources remain insufficient. He urged the MAE to support the establishment of a modern sturgeon and salmon breeding center and transfer advanced technology from Russia.
Addressing these concerns, Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, affirmed that Vietnam is fully capable of mastering cold-water fish farming technology. The MAE is implementing international cooperation programs with the Russian Federation, acquiring comprehensive technology packages for breeding and commercial farming, and collaborating with the Institute of Aquaculture Research to standardize procedures.
According to Mr. Long, success requires leveraging the “three-house” model—Government, Schools, and Enterprises (including farmers). All technologies and research must be grounded in practical needs and linked to consumer markets.
Nearly $870 Million in FDI Poured into Nghe An Province
In the first nine months of the year, Nghe An province approved investment policies and issued Investment Registration Certificates for 55 projects, while also adjusting 147 project instances. The total foreign direct investment (FDI) capital reached nearly 870 million USD.
