Nearly 450 people expressed their wish to resign after the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Mr. Do Duc Duy - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said that up to now, 448 people have expressed their wish to resign after the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

On the afternoon of February 19, the Steering Committee for the project to merge the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a conference to deploy the project to establish the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .

The conference was held right after the National Assembly passed a Resolution on establishing a number of ministries on the basis of reorganizing a number of ministries and ministerial-level agencies of the Government on February 18.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was established on the basis of merging the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Also at the 9th extraordinary session on February 18, the National Assembly elected Mr. Le Minh Hoan - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to hold the position of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (term 2021-2026).

On the afternoon of February 19, the Steering Committee for the project to merge the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a conference to implement the project to establish the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The conference was held right after the National Assembly passed a resolution on the establishment of a number of ministries on the basis of reorganizing a number of ministries and ministerial-level agencies of the Government on February 18. Photo: Tung Dinh

The National Assembly then approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to appoint Mr. Do Duc Duy as Minister of Agriculture and Environment. On the same day, President Luong Cuong presented the decision to appoint Mr. Do Duc Duy as Minister of Agriculture and Environment (the decision took effect from March 1).

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy said that, implementing Resolution No. 18 of the Central Committee on innovation and reorganization of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have recently established a Steering Committee to develop a project to merge the two ministries.

According to Mr. Duy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are assessed to have been very urgent in the process of building the merger project to submit to the National Assembly for approval on February 18.

Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that in just 10 days, the transition from the old model to the new model - the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment - will officially begin. Therefore, he requested that the agencies and units of the two ministries focus on leading, directing, and promptly handling work so that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment can officially come into operation from March 1.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy said that during the process of developing the project to merge the two ministries, 448 people expressed their wish to resign. Photo: Tung Dinh

Mr. Duy said that in the process of developing the project to merge the two ministries, up to now, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has 300 people (120 people have submitted applications to resign, enjoying the regime according to Decree No. 178) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has 148 people expressing their wishes to resign.

"The task of streamlining and streamlining is very difficult and complicated, affecting each person, so we need to unite and be ready to sacrifice our individual tasks to serve the common good," said Mr. Duy.

Regarding the regulations and functions of each agency and unit, Minister Do Duc Duy also requested that agencies and units closely follow the principles and criteria, promptly review and organize the apparatus to report to the Steering Committee and the Standing Committee of the Ministry's Party Committee.

At the conference, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan said that the agricultural and environmental sectors are like "one of two", "two in one" and there is still much room for development. According to him, if we do not protect the environment and preserve resources, our agriculture will be the first to be affected.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan speaks at the conference. Photo: Tung Dinh

Mr. Hoan also believes that agriculture is not only an industry that depends on the environment, but if we know how, agriculture itself can become a solution to protect the environment. If we know the limits and respect nature, agriculture will not only not destroy the environment but also help restore what has been lost.

"We cannot choose between developing agriculture or protecting the environment, because those are not two separate choices. We need to find a way for both to coexist and complement each other," said Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan.

According to Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan, the agricultural sector needs to change from the mindset of "taking advantage of resources" to the mindset of "harmonizing with nature". We need to switch to smart agriculture, adapting to climate change.

Applying biotechnology, organic farming, minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Changing the way of thinking from agricultural production to agricultural economics, where value lies not only in the product but also in the sustainable ecosystem.

After the merger, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has 2,890 civil servants and more than 12,000 officials working at the two ministries before the merger.

As planned, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will have the position and function of a Government agency performing state management functions with 45 functions and tasks in the following fields: agriculture; forestry; salt industry; fisheries; irrigation; natural disaster prevention; rural development; land; water resources; mineral and geological resources; environment; hydrometeorology; climate change; surveying and mapping; integrated management of resources and protection of the marine and island environment; remote sensing; state management of public services in the fields under the Ministry's management.

Regarding the organizational structure, there will be 30 affiliated units (a reduction of 25 units, equivalent to more than 45%) specifically: (1) Department of International Cooperation; (2) Department of Planning and Finance; (3) Department of Science and Technology; (4) Department of Legislation; (5) Department of Organization and Personnel; (6) Ministry Office; (7) Ministry Inspectorate; (8) Department of Digital Transformation; (9) Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection; (10) Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; (11) Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control; (12) Department of Forestry and Forest Protection; (13) Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction; (14) Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control; (15) Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development; (16) Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development; (17) Department of Land Management; (18) Department of Water Resources Management; (19) Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam; (20) Department of Environment; (21) Department of Climate Change; (22) Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity; (23) Department of Hydrometeorology; (24) Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam; (25) Department of Surveying, Mapping and Geographic Information of Vietnam; (26) National Remote Sensing Department; (27) Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment; (28) Agriculture and Environment Newspaper; (29) Agriculture and Environment Magazine; (30) National Agricultural Extension Center.

Source: https://danviet.vn/bo-truong-do-duc-duy-gan-450-nguoi-bay-to-nguyen-vong-xin-nghi-sau-khi-hop-nhat-bo-nong-nghiep-va-moi-truong-20250219173042132.htm