Source: Dan Viet online newspaper
Managers and experts unanimously agree that the Vietnam Farmers’ Union and its members hold this pivotal role in ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural products and food.
On the morning of November 16, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union held a workshop titled: “Promoting the Role of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union in Propagating, Mobilizing, and Guiding Farmers in the Production and Trading of Safe Agricultural Products and Food for Public Health.” Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, attended and chaired the workshop.
The event was also co-chaired by Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Head of the Social Affairs Committee, and Mr. Hoang Tung, Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, and Industry and Trade; leaders of the Farmers’ Associations and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development from various provinces and cities; as well as scientists and experts.
Farmers remain at the “center” of the production and trading of safe agricultural products and food.
In his opening speech, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, highlighted the importance of Resolution No. 69, dated May 11, 2024. This resolution pertains to the Government’s Action Program for implementing Resolution No. 46, dated December 20, 2023, by the Politburo on innovating and improving the quality of activities of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union to meet revolutionary requirements in the new era.
Under this framework, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union has been assigned to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies to develop the project “Propaganda, Mobilization, and Guidance for Farmers to Produce and Trade Safe Agricultural Products and Food for Community Health for the Period 2024-2030,” to be submitted to the Prime Minister in 2024.
Vice President Nguyen Xuan Dinh urged the workshop to clarify the role of the Farmers’ Union in advocating, mobilizing, and guiding farmers in the production and trading of safe agricultural products and food to ensure community health.
As one of the leading entities in linking production with consumption of safe agricultural products, the Farmers’ Association of Ninh Binh province has been at the forefront of this effort. Mr. Nguyen Minh Loc, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Ninh Binh province, shared that the association has established 53 safe agricultural product stores across all eight districts and cities. Additionally, a Safe Agricultural Product Club with 60 members has been formed to foster collaboration, healthy business practices, and stable raw material areas while facilitating the exchange of goods and information among stores.
Notably, the association has collaborated with the Farmers’ Associations of Hanoi and Hoa Binh to open Ninh Binh Safe Agricultural Product Stores in Hanoi and Hoa Binh, providing a new solution for the consumption of safe agricultural products in the province.
Currently, all 38 stores managed by the Ninh Binh Farmers’ Association adhere to regulations set by functional sectors, supporting the consumption of safe agricultural products from farmers both within and outside the province.
However, Mr. Loc highlighted some challenges:
- Association officials have yet to fully recognize the organization’s role in ensuring food safety, leading to a lack of accountability.
- Mobilizing farmers to build safe food production models remains difficult, as many households prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits.
- Farmers are hesitant to report unsafe food production and trading practices.
“Farmers cannot stand alone.”
Mr. Tong Xuan Chinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), emphasized that farmers play a “central and key” role in producing and trading safe agricultural products and food for public health. He stressed the need for coordination among socio-political organizations such as the Farmers’ Association, Women’s Association, and Youth Union to monitor and support farmers effectively.
“When products reach the market, the production process must be closely monitored. Solutions are also needed to ensure product traceability, including origin, labeling, and branding, so consumers can recognize and trust them,” Mr. Chinh said.
He further noted that with over 20,000 agricultural production cooperatives nationwide, farmers “cannot stand alone.” It is essential to encourage, organize, and support them to join cooperatives, cooperative groups, or professional farmer associations. By linking production to value chains, farmers can reduce costs and increase product value, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector.
In addition, digital transformation must be applied to agricultural production. Mr. Chinh stated that this would serve as a breakthrough solution to help farmers produce and sell their products, noting that “geographical distance will no longer matter; farmers can sell their products anywhere.”
According to Mr. Do Thanh Lam, Director of the SAFEGRO Project (Safe Food for Growth project), the Vietnam Farmers’ Association plays a crucial role in monitoring and providing social critique on the implementation of safe agricultural and food production practices.
Mr. Lam expressed his admiration for the model implemented by the Ninh Binh Farmers’ Association. He emphasized that successful implementation must involve commitments, contracts, supervision, and support in addition to adopting safe agricultural production and business models.
At the workshop, Mr. Lam proposed that Farmers’ Associations at all levels should focus on propagating and mobilizing efforts toward “changing food safety behaviors.” The goal is to influence the behavior of sellers, consumers, and market managers, while also recognizing and praising individuals and groups that excel in ensuring food safety.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang, the Hanoi Farmers’ Association, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuc, CEO of AUTOAGRI Software Technology Joint Stock Company, also presented papers. They highlighted the current situation, proposed solutions, and reaffirmed the “core” role of farmers in the production and trading of safe agricultural products and food.
Concluding the workshop, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Association, Nguyen Xuan Dinh, expressed sincere gratitude to the delegates for their dedicated and responsible contributions. He also encouraged continued research and consultation to refine the project proposal, contributing valuable insights to the Editorial Team for submission to the Prime Minister in 2024.