Impressions of Vietnam: From a country of famine to an agricultural powerhouse

Over the past 80 years, from a colonial country with backward agriculture , insufficient food, facing famine, Vietnam has now become one of the world's leading agricultural exporters, playing an important role in the global food supply chain.

That 80-year journey is a journey of constant efforts of the Vietnamese land and people; a journey written with the sweat, aspiration and intelligence of farmers, scientists and the entire political system.

Assessing the 80-year journey of Vietnamese agriculture, Dr. Dang Kim Son - Institute for Agricultural Market and Institution Research said that over the past 80 years, agriculture has emerged as a socio -economic development sector that has made great contributions to the country through each historical period.

“We ensure food security, we become a powerful exporter of rice and many other agricultural products. We successfully eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, ensure socio-economic stability… These are outstanding achievements of the agricultural sector throughout the country's history," Dr. Dang Kim Son emphasized.

In the memory of many Vietnamese people, rice is still considered “the pearl of food” because of the haunting hardships and hunger that lasted for many years. After that, the 100-year contract in 1981 and the 10-year contract in 1988 became a breakthrough reform in agricultural management.

Hunger and food shortage lasted for more than 40 years, but thanks to innovative thinking, in 1989 Vietnam exported the first tons of rice to the world.

And the small grain of rice is also the first agricultural product that made Vietnam's name famous in the international arena, paving the way for a series of Vietnamese agricultural products to later continue the journey and mission of an agricultural export powerhouse.

In fact, each field of the agricultural sector, from cultivation, livestock breeding, and aquaculture, has had remarkable achievements over the past 80 years and contributed greatly to the overall development of the sector.

Regarding the livestock industry, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of the Vietnam Livestock Association, said that Vietnam's livestock industry has achieved a regional ranking in the world. "Vietnam's pig herd ranks 6th in the world, and its output ranks 7th in the world - a significant number for a small country like Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam's poultry industry ranks second in the world, just behind China. Our animal feed industry and milk processing industry are leading in ASEAN countries," Mr. Duong emphasized.

Aquaculture - one of the key export sectors, bringing in tens of billions of USD each year, has also continuously witnessed remarkable progress to contribute nearly a quarter of the agricultural sector's GDP, with the world's third largest seafood export turnover and fourth largest seafood export output.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, our country is currently the world's leading exporter of cashew nuts; second in the world in exporting rice and coffee; third in the world in exporting vegetables and fruits; and fourth in seafood.

Many key products have entered demanding markets such as the European Union (EU), Japan, South Korea, the United States... Besides quantity, Vietnam has strongly shifted to high-quality agricultural products with many products positioning Vietnamese brands such as: ST25 rice, specialty coffee, organic shrimp, deeply processed fruits...

The journey from a country suffering from hunger to the top rankings in the market of rice, coffee, pepper, vegetables, cashew nuts, shrimp, tra fish, etc. is not only an affirmation of Vietnam's position in the international market, but also a journey marking the strong transformation of Vietnamese farmers, Vietnamese agriculture, and Vietnam.

It can be said that the important driving force that created the marks of the agricultural sector is that our Party identified agriculture as the leading front with a series of policies issued since the renovation.

Policies for agriculture, farmers and rural areas in recent times have shown a development in thinking from agricultural production to agricultural economic thinking.

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW, dated June 16, 2022 on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identified agriculture, farmers, and rural areas as the foundation and important force in national development.

The strategy for sustainable rural agricultural development to 2030, with a vision to 2045, also aims for Vietnam to become a leading country in agricultural product processing and export, linking production with environmental protection, emission reduction, strong application of science and technology and digital transformation.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, assessed: "The combination of science, technology and institutions is a lever to help Vietnamese agriculture make a breakthrough, not only ensuring stable food security but also participating in the global supply chain with quality, branded products."

According to Dr. Le Quoc Thanh - Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, throughout the country's history, generations of agricultural scientists have tried their best to contribute to the miracle of Vietnam's agricultural sector.

“From the work of selecting and creating plant and animal breeds, successfully converting the breeding system; researching, transferring and applying technical advances in production; synchronizing solutions, issues on technological processes, technical processes and especially approaching science on innovation, production organization, production connection has helped Vietnamese agriculture break through and participate in the global supply chain with quality and branded products,” Dr. Le Quoc Thanh emphasized.

In the new era, the era of national growth, considering historical traditions, potentials and advantages, it can be seen that agriculture will still be the most important foundation, playing a pioneering role and holding the position of a field that has been affirmed as a national advantage.

vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/an-tuong-viet-nam-tu-quoc-gia-thieu-doi-den-cuong-quoc-nong-san-post879805.html