The dedicated and approachable Minister

Mr. Le Huy Ngo was born in 1938 in Tinh Hai commune (Tinh Gia district, Thanh Hoa province), grew up as an agricultural extension officer and then Head of the cooperative during the "household contract" period initiated by Secretary Kim Ngoc.

From 1997 to 2004, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development . This was a period when Vietnam's agricultural sector faced many difficulties, frequent natural disasters, market fluctuations, and the need to innovate agricultural production was urgent.

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo at his home. Photo by NGUYEN KIEM

Coming from a rural background, he deeply understands the hardships of farmers. As a Minister, he still maintains the habit of "going to the grassroots, asking and answering questions with farmers, wading in the fields with farmers".

During those business trips, he often rolled up his pants, waded through the mud to visit the fields, and asked people about seeds, irrigation water, prices, and markets. He once said at an industry conference: “If we do not listen to farmers and do not understand what they need, all policies will only remain on paper.” It was this sincerity and closeness that made him loved by the people as a relative, and respected by industry officials as an exemplary teacher.

During his tenure as Minister, he stood out in his role as commander of natural disaster prevention and control. In the years 1999-2003, when storms and floods continuously raged in the Central region, the image of him wearing a raincoat, braving the wind and rain, being present at the storm's epicenter to direct response and relief work became familiar. He was often the first to arrive at the scene and also the last to leave - after making sure that each household was safe, each dyke was reinforced, and each road to the flooded area was cleared for relief work. He once emphasized in an emergency meeting in Thua Thien Hue in 1999: "Farmers are the ones who suffer the most when storms and floods hit. To save people, we must race against time."

Thinking and talking about his predecessor, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat emotionally recalled: “Mr. Ngo is someone who never sits still in an air-conditioned room when people are flooded by storms. He is present at the scene not only to direct, but also to encourage, to share each loss with the people”.

Thanks to his drastic and close direction, many damages were mitigated, many lives and properties were saved. For agricultural officials, the image of Minister Le Huy Ngo in the middle of the storm is a symbol of responsibility and compassion for the cause of agriculture and rural areas in times of danger.

Not only is he determined to fight against storms and floods, he is also known as one of the pioneers in promoting agricultural innovation in a modern direction, bringing scientific advances into production. He believes: "To escape the vicious cycle of "good harvest, low price, good price, bad harvest", we must renew our production thinking, and walk on the feet of science and technology."

As Minister, he directed the promotion of research programs, selection and creation of high-yield, pest-resistant, climate-adaptive crop and livestock varieties; at the same time, he promoted the mechanism for rapid transfer of research results to cooperatives and farming households. Many new rice varieties with outstanding yields, many semi-industrial and industrial livestock models were born and quickly spread during his term. He did not hesitate to travel hundreds of kilometers to see with his own eyes how people sowed new varieties, how they cared for them, and whether economic efficiency had really increased.

Mr. Nguyen Sinh Cuc, former Deputy Director General of the General Statistics Office, once commented: “Mr. Ngo is very sensitive to innovation. He not only worries about hunger and saving people during storms and floods, but also worries about and thinks of ways for farmers to not only have enough to eat but also get rich from their fields.”

One heart, one mind

After completing his duties as Minister in 2004, he continued to participate in many social activities, contributing his intelligence to policies on agriculture, rural areas, poverty reduction and sustainable development. In any position, he still maintained his simplicity, closeness, and lack of pretentiousness. Anyone who was close to him felt one thing: Even after retirement, he was always passionate about agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. It felt like he cared about every drop of sweat of farmers, worried about every grain of rice, every kilo of sugar of people in remote areas. Once, after a long and tiring trip, he said: "I can rest, but I cannot rest in the fields. People still depend on each crop, each season...".

Therefore, no matter what position he holds, Mr. Le Huy Ngo always carries in his heart the image of the barefoot farmers carrying the soul of the country on their shoulders. For him, the true strength of the country does not only lie in the bright industrial zones, but also begins with the sweat on the fields, from each rice flower, eggplant, fish, chicken... the things that make up life, nurture the nation through many generations.

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo in an interview with a reporter from the People's Army Newspaper at his home. Photo: NGUYEN KIEM

Mr. Le Huy Ngo has passed away. But when we look at the ripe rice fields, the modern livestock farms, the lush fruit areas, no one can forget the mark of a man who quietly cultivated, pioneered, and took the lead so that Vietnamese agriculture could stand firm and develop.

Perhaps, the most valuable thing he left behind was not only his policies and achievements, but also an example of love, dedication, courage and responsibility. An example of a cadre who lived and worked for the people, regardless of fame or profit. Whenever people mention him, the first thing they remember is not his position, but the image of a great, close, and loyal friend to the farmers.

Farewell to Mr. Le Huy Ngo - a man who lived a full life, and will live forever in our hearts, in the hearts of Vietnamese farmers.  

HOANG TRONG THUY

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/ky-su/mai-nho-ong-bo-truong-nong-dan-846575