The irrigation sector is focusing on three breakthroughs for 2026.

Speaking at the summary conference of the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep outlined three breakthroughs for the sector in 2026.

On the morning of December 26th, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep attended and chaired the conference summarizing the work of 2025 and outlining the operational plan for 2026 of the Department of Irrigation Construction and Management.

We need to be more proactive.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep assessed 2025 as a particularly difficult and challenging year for the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction, as it simultaneously involves the merger of two departments, the consolidation of two ministries, and the implementation of a two-tiered local government model.

As an organization with direct and frequent contact with local authorities, any changes in organizational structure and management mechanisms have an immediate impact on the Department's operations.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep attended and chaired the summary conference of the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Furthermore, the situation regarding natural disasters is becoming increasingly complex, with many hydrological and meteorological indicators exceeding historical levels, and baseline data undergoing significant changes. Meanwhile, the field of irrigation is closely linked to disaster prevention and control, management, exploitation, and ensuring the safety of irrigation structures.

In that context, the Deputy Minister acknowledged that the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction had demonstrated resilience, maintained stability, proactively adapted to and overcome challenges, considering the difficulties mainly as short-term compared to its existing capabilities and foundation.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that the Department has basically completed all tasks assigned by the Ministry as well as those proactively set out at the beginning of the year. A notable highlight is that, to date, the Department has no outstanding legal documents or regulations – a very commendable achievement given the large workload and high deadline requirements.

2025 will also be the year the Department focuses on addressing many major issues in the sector, especially planning work, specifically completing and submitting for approval important specialized plans and participating deeply in the process of formulating and adjusting local plans in both a professional and advisory role.

Director of the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction Nguyen Tung Phong gives a brief report on the Department's work to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Regarding professional tasks, the Deputy Minister highly appreciated the systematic, orderly approach, which is becoming increasingly specialized and professional, from managing drought and salinity, water extraction for the winter-spring crop, to handling risks in a normalized manner.

The Department has gradually established development directions for the irrigation system and enterprises; the rural clean water sector has seen many positive changes, especially in data management and international cooperation.

Investment and construction management has yielded clear results, with many key projects handed over and put into operation, including the decisive resolution of long-standing stalled projects and a reduction in the risk of capital loss.

Finally, the Deputy Minister acknowledged that the Department's capacity and effectiveness in state management have made significant progress, administrative procedures and advisory quality have improved, and digital transformation and data are strengths that need to be further expanded and promoted in the future.

Besides the achievements, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep noted that the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction needs to continue to assess and address two remaining shortcomings. These include being more proactive in responding to local needs for support, especially during natural disasters; and reviewing, inspecting, and analyzing the causes to promptly propose appropriate solutions.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep outlined seven key tasks for the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction in 2026, focusing on three breakthroughs. Photo: Tung Dinh.

3 breakthroughs for 2026

Entering 2026, the Deputy Minister requested the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction to clearly define seven major directions to create substantive, sustainable, and in-depth changes in the management of the sector, in line with the new institutional context, climate, and development requirements.

Firstly, the three breakthroughs of the sector must be implemented effectively, with the Department playing a core role in organizing their execution. These three breakthroughs include: developing smart irrigation, efficiently utilizing irrigation infrastructure and facilities to drive development. These breakthroughs need to be concretized through clear programs, projects, and tasks; with assigned responsibilities and appropriate resources to ensure their practical application and avoid fragmentation.

Secondly, conduct a comprehensive review and reassessment of the national planning and strategy system for irrigation and disaster prevention and control. Based on this, proactively advise on adjustments to legal documents and reshape specialized plans in a way that is synchronized, flexible, adaptable to climate change, and aligns with new management models.

Thirdly, to concretize the Politburo 's conclusions on water security and reservoir safety, the Department needs to develop specific tasks for implementation and report to the Politburo; strengthen technical support for localities, especially for large reservoirs with regulating sluice gates, ensuring the safety of the structures and downstream areas.

Fourth, promote digital transformation in the management and operation of irrigation works. The focus is on building data systems, calculation models, and scenarios for water resources, drought, salinity, and flooding to support management and operation. Simultaneously, research and propose the establishment of a Central Vietnam Irrigation Company in 2026, linked to the development of small-scale and on-farm irrigation.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep presents the Labor Order to individuals from the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Fifth, proactively promote the socialization of the water sector, especially rural domestic water supply. The Department needs to propose mechanisms to attract social resources, definitively resolve hotspots of clean water shortage, and ensure social welfare for rural areas.

Sixth, focus on definitively resolving projects under the 2020-2025 medium-term investment plan that have been extended to 2026, ensuring no unfinished projects remain; and at the same time, carefully plan for the new medium-term period.

Seventh, focus on organizational and personnel matters. Accordingly, the Department needs to enhance the capacity of its staff through training and development, consider supplementing personnel when necessary, and simultaneously develop a strategy to consolidate and reorganize the apparatus to meet the requirements of the tasks in the new development phase.

At the conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep also presided over the announcement of awards for several individuals from the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction. These included Mr. Luong Van Anh, Deputy Director, who received the Second Class Labor Medal, and Ms. Le Thi Lan, Deputy Chief of the Department's Office, who received the Third Class Labor Medal, along with several Certificates of Merit and titles of Emulation Fighter at the ministerial level.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nganh-thuy-loi-tap-trung-vao-3-dot-pha-cho-nam-2026-d791441.html