National Farmers' Forum 2024: Some lingering thoughts

Our people have spent their whole lives clinging to the forests, the seas, the rivers and the streams, gathering to attend a forum that is not structured, formal, administrative or hierarchical. We are our own people, so why be so polite?

Coming to this series of events, some people have been to the capital many times, but many people this is the first time in their lives setting foot on Thang Long land, the heart of the whole country.

People visited Uncle Ho's mausoleum once and remembered his advice: " If our farmers are rich, our country will be rich. If our agriculture is prosperous, our country will be prosperous." Uncle Ho also reminded the entire political system: "The people are the root of the country. The country takes the people as its root."

The event took place openly and harmoniously, with voices mixed with laughter. The forum was not a place for "questioning and answering", "questioning and explaining", but for building the future of agriculture together with the aspiration for prosperity and strength. "Three trees": the Farmers' Association, the Agriculture Sector and Farmers will "come together to form a high mountain".

Party Central Committee member, President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Central Committee Luong Quoc Doan; Party Central Committee member, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan co-chaired the 9th National Farmers' Forum. Photo: Khong Chi

The "Three Trees" resonate to create strength and resources to support farmers on the path of change. If farmers change, their farms will change, and if many farms change, agriculture will change. No one can feel the scent of the soil and the salty taste of the water like farmers. And certainly no one understands farming like farmers from all over the country.

The forum was held right after Typhoon Yagi, a great flood that affected one-third of the country. The storm and flood left behind much pain and loss. Painful but not miserable. Loss of gardens, barns, ponds, but not loss of faith, will and determination of millions of farmers. As long as there are people, there is property, as long as there is breath, there is hope. The past cannot be changed, only the future is determined by each person starting today. After the rain, there will be a rainbow ahead.

We are proud of the farmers who have overcome difficulties in the country. These excellent farmers inspire the whole society, reminding everyone to never forget the farmers somewhere in a small corner of the countryside. The farmer leaders are spreading the desire to enrich the community, the countryside, and the alleys with OCOP products that are the essence of Vietnamese culture.

Cooperative directors act as a bridge between farmers, businesses and markets. Advanced examples in digital transformation, circular agriculture, and new rural development demonstrate that farmers are playing a leading role and central position in agricultural and rural development.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, Director of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (Bac Kan) asked questions to the President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Khong Chi

However, there are still many concerns and worries from farmer representatives. Lack of land to expand production scale. Lack of capital to invest in processing facilities to meet business cycles. Lack of information on land, construction and business laws. Lack of guidance on production standards to meet market requirements. Lack of timely support from sectors at all levels.

Each of these shortcomings is not only a problem for farmers but also a problem for agriculture. Each of these shortcomings is not as important as farmers’ lack of knowledge and capacity. Removing the farmers’ bottlenecks is removing the bottlenecks for the development of the locality and the country.

Resolution 19-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers and rural areas has set out strategic goals and visions: "Farmers and rural residents have increasingly higher qualifications, material and spiritual life, and are in control of the process of agricultural and rural development".

Creating conditions for farmers to promote their role as the main subject, standing at the center of the process of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, is a national issue. Farmers who produce according to traditional practices, with fragmented land, small scale, spontaneous production, and transition to modern agriculture still have a lot of work to do after this forum.

The author of the article, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan. When writing for newspapers, he often uses the very familiar and popular pen name "Xich Lo". Photo: DV

Capital and land, along with how to use capital and land effectively and avoid risks, are issues that depend on the capacity of farmers. That capacity comes from the spirit of learning of the people and the support from the Farmers' Association and the Agricultural Sector. Our grandparents concluded "Money entering the house is as difficult as wind entering an empty house" and advised "Rich land for growing beans and corn. Marshland for growing rice, dry land for gardening".

It is a journey to intellectualize farmers and professionalize agriculture. The country's agriculture can only develop sustainably when the structure of each industry is tight, everyone goes together throughout the journey from production to market. Farmers' Association officers and Agricultural Extension officers go together to resonate strength. The Farmer Support Center will be a space to train farmers to start businesses and innovate, connecting to the market.

Farming is not only hard work, "not lying down at the first watch, waking up at the fifth watch", but also always faces many risks: epidemics, natural disasters, input prices, market instability. Risks also come from the fragility of cooperation and association. Society is grateful to those who produce rice, fish, meat, and vegetables for daily meals in each family.

The country treasures the achievements of farmers so that the country's agriculture can have miraculous pages in history. Everyone treats farmers according to human ethics: "When eating the fruit, remember the person who planted the tree."

Chairman Luong Quoc Doan, Minister Le Minh Hoan and delegates visited booths of farmers and cooperatives at the 9th National Farmers' Forum. Photo: PV

"We met here, then parted. The long day seemed to have passed in a moment." One returned to the white sandy coastal strip. One went up to the undulating highlands. One returned to the river delta. Fifty children followed their mother to the forest, fifty children followed their father to the sea, like the legend of the farewell of the Dragon and Fairy's children.

People rebuild their homes after the storms and floods. People continue to work with their fields, barns, cages, cooperatives, farms, and businesses. Life continues its cycle of four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Society does not forget farmers, just as farmers do not abandon farming for generations. No matter where they go, people will return to their homeland to have a simple meal of "water spinach soup and eggplant with soy sauce". Return so that farmers do not feel alone on the difficult path. Wherever there are farmers, there is the Farmers' Association! Wherever there are farmers, there is Agricultural Extension!

When farmers are smart, there will be smart agriculture!

When farmers are professional, there will be professional agriculture!

When farmers are happy, the country will be happy!

Source: https://danviet.vn/dien-dan-nong-dan-quoc-gia-2024-doi-dieu-lang-dong-20241017090136502.htm