Former Minister Ta Quang Ngoc: 'Agriculture and Environment Newspaper is a bosom friend'

Former Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc hopes that the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper will continue to be the transmitter and join hands in leading green growth in Vietnam's agricultural sector.

80-year journey - a precious history

Former Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc expressed his special affection for the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper: “I consider the newspaper a close friend. The 80-year journey of the newspaper is a very precious history. This is not only an occasion to celebrate and be proud, but also an opportunity to look back and reflect more deeply on the past journey, from which to draw valuable lessons for the next step of development.”

He emphasized: “In the context of strong social transformation, the press is also entering a new stage of development. The parallel between print and multimedia communication tools, between tradition and modernity, and past practices are valuable lessons for the sustainable development of the press. I would like to congratulate and hope that the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper will always keep up and continue to move forward, worthy of the role of a pioneering newspaper in the field of agriculture and environment of the country.”

Former Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc expressed his special affection for the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper: "I consider the newspaper a close friend." Photo: Pham Hieu .

He recalled that during his time in office, what surprised and moved him was that the Newspaper always accompanied fishermen. “During the years when we talked a lot about building the fisheries industry into a spearhead industry, transforming the structure to commercial aquaculture for export, making steady progress in seafood exports… and helping fishermen have a more stable life, I saw those things reflected very clearly in the previous Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper.”

Former Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc shared: “The value of a newspaper is reflected in the number of readers and the level of engagement between the newspaper and the public. Agriculture and Environment Newspaper has done that. Information from the newspaper reaches readers very quickly, is quite accurate and reliable, reflecting exactly what people want to know.”

In particular, he said: "Almost wherever there is a natural disaster, there are reporters from the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper. The newspaper is always the earliest and most timely information agency."

He still remembers storm number 5 - storm Linda in 1997. Reporters from the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper were among the first to arrive, recording the damage to people, vehicles, and property to promptly report and support the rescue work.

The former Minister also looked back at the newspaper's proud historical journey: "The Tac Dat newspaper - the predecessor of today's Agriculture and Environment Newspaper - was born at a time when the whole country was determined to fight against 'famine' in 1945, then accompanied each historical period of the country, from the period of resistance, building the socialist North and liberating the South, unifying the country with the slogan 'Not a pound of rice is missing, not a soldier is missing'.

At any stage, agriculture has always been a pioneer in innovation and integration. Up to now, when the agricultural sector is aiming for "rich people, strong country" with the goal of achieving 65-70 billion USD in exports each year in the coming years, the press and media are an indispensable force.

He emphasized: "The press must constantly innovate and reform to suit social life and people's aspirations, and at the same time be a bridge to correctly convey the Party and State's guidelines and policies, contributing to discovering problems, helping to build policies that are more closely aligned, feasible and practical for agriculture - farmers - rural areas."

Actively participate in the orientation and implementation of green growth

Former Minister Ta Quang Ngoc said that Vietnam's agriculture is entering a new phase with many intertwined opportunities and challenges. He said that investment in agriculture is increasing, production experience, application of science and technology and management methods are increasingly modern. Vietnam not only has a rise from internal strength, but also welcomes opportunities and advantages from the outside, creating a mix of advantages and challenges in participating in the global agricultural supply chain.

He also said that "green growth" is a consistent strategic orientation, closely linked to the requirements of food security, contributing to ensuring energy security. Digital transformation and artificial intelligence are indispensable tools, helping the agricultural sector develop in a modern, efficient and sustainable direction. With that requirement, the press needs to take the lead in reflecting, analyzing and introducing models, policies and solutions to overcome difficulties together with management agencies, farmers and agricultural enterprises, in order to enhance national prestige - especially when Vietnam is aiming for an export target of 65 - 70 billion USD per year.

In relation to the media, the former Minister affirmed that the press needs to convey in a timely manner and actively participate in orienting agriculture to quickly move into a green orbit, helping to shape new thinking in production and consumption. The media and each newspaper also need to promote action and spread the values ​​of green growth and clean agriculture.

“The merger of Agriculture and Environment Newspaper at such a time is truly an advantage. I believe that, in the coming period, the Newspaper will continue to be a reliable companion of the industry, farmers and a large number of readers,” the former Minister emphasized.

Putting the environment first for sustainable development is not easy!

“I want to look back at this relationship from nearly 40 years ago,” said former Minister Ta Quang Ngoc.

He said: “In 1988, the world began to celebrate Environment Day every year with the message 'When people put the environment first, development will be sustainable' . But just four years later, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, I still clearly remember the poster with the words: 'Poverty and Environment - A Vicious Cycle' ”.

This vicious cycle persisted for many “four years” after that, until the concept emerged, then solutions, policy groups and most importantly commitments on “green growth” were reached, then it could be said that the environmental and economic problems were “solved” to find a way out.

Ecosystems are of great importance when developing agriculture (or more broadly, biological industries) towards green growth. He repeatedly emphasized the concept of “Responsible fisheries in marine ecosystems” , considering it the foundation for sustainable development.

Illustrating with a vivid example in agriculture, he recounted the story that at the end of December 2004, he and a working delegation from the Ministry of Fisheries went to Hai Duong province, where the then Provincial Party Secretary went to the salty and sour fields of Tu Ky district to survey and find ways to use the water surface area in some communes to develop fish farming, helping people increase their income and change the face of the countryside.

An Thanh commune was chosen as the project site. Instead of just having crabs and fish as before, they started building tilapia ponds. The trip opened up the hope of "changing lives" for the people, and could then be expanded to many other areas. Everyone was excited.

He said: “A month after that trip, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2005, I received a New Year's letter from Professor, Historian Van Tao - who wrote a lot about the famine of the year 60 years before and co-edited with Japanese author Furuta Motoo the famous book ' The 1945 famine in Vietnam - Historical evidence ' (published in Vietnamese, Japanese and English). In the letter, besides the warm New Year's wishes, the Professor wrote: My hometown is as poor as your hometown in Nghe An, so when I see someone who can help me become rich and strong, I am happy and do not forget to thank them …”

He added that the first fish farming seasons brought great excitement, with monosex tilapia being sold in large quantities in the markets, helping farmers improve their income. However, the joy did not last long when the market began to stagnate and consumption became difficult.

Former Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc believes that only the people can change the face of their homeland and create a stable source of income based on local ecological advantages. Photo: Hong Tham .

Two decades later, in mid-2024, when he returned to this land, he witnessed a completely different appearance. “Now people are enthusiastically implementing the rice-rươi model, in which rươi brings in very good income, from 450 million to 1 billion VND/ha/year; the short-term rice variety CXT 30 is resistant to diseases so it does not need to be sprayed with pesticides, has high yield, and a lot of straw helps rươi and crabs grow…”, he said.

According to him, thanks to knowing how to make friends with ecological conditions, people have achieved the prosperity they have today. He believes that only people can change the face of their homeland and create a stable source of income based on local ecological advantages. Supporting them in science and technology are experts, scientists and entrepreneurs according to the model of the CXT30 + fresh/high-value - safe - sustainable agricultural ecosystem of the Vietnam Clean Agriculture Joint Stock Company.

“Those changes are a vivid picture of the new vitality of rural Vietnam, where poverty is being pushed back and people’s lives are becoming more prosperous. And it is for stories like these that the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper must be the storyteller, the preserver and the spreader,” the former Minister emphasized.

Tac Dat Newspaper was established by the Government on December 4, 1945, and was one of the first newspapers established right after the country gained independence.

On December 7, 1945, Tac Dat Newspaper published its first issue and was honored to receive an introduction and assignment from President Ho Chi Minh.

On March 1, 2025, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper was established on the basis of merging Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper and Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper. And the founding date of Tac Dat Newspaper (December 4, 1945) was chosen as the Traditional Day of Agriculture and Environment Newspaper.

The ceremony to honor and express gratitude on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper will take place at 5:30 p.m. on December 4, 2025 at the Hanoi Museum (Pham Hung Street, Hanoi).

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nguyen-bo-truong-ta-quang-ngoc-bao-nong-nghiep-va-moi-truong-la-nguoi-ban-tri-ky-d782684.html