Reorganize the national agricultural extension network before October 30

On the morning of October 17, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held an online conference with 34 provinces and cities on rearranging the national agricultural extension system according to the new circular.

Conference scene on the morning of October 17

Grassroots agricultural extension interrupted due to lack of human resources

A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that the agricultural extension system in Vietnam was formed in 1993. Before the reorganization, the system was organized synchronously from province to commune.

At the provincial level, the agricultural extension center is a public service unit under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, now the Department of Agriculture and Environment, responsible for local agricultural extension activities.

At the previous district level, agricultural extension stations or agricultural service centers were public service units under the district People's Committee, performing many functions in the agricultural sector.

At the commune level, agricultural extension activities are undertaken by about 10,000 agricultural extension workers and more than 21,000 village collaborators. There are 5,187 community agricultural extension groups with 47,493 members nationwide.

Local representatives speak online

After being reorganized into a two-tier local government model, provinces and cities have reorganized provincial agricultural extension centers under the Department of Agriculture and Environment. There are currently 1,763 staff working at provincial agricultural extension centers.

At the regional level, the country has 324 agricultural extension stations with 4,518 staff, arranged according to 3 models: 24/34 provinces and cities organize agricultural extension stations managed by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, 3 provinces establish Regional Agricultural Service Centers managed by the Department of Agriculture and Environment ( Hanoi , Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri) and 2 provinces assign the People's Committees of communes to manage (Lao Cai, Quang Ngai).

However, according to the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, at the commune level, the progress of arrangement is still slow. Currently, only Bac Ninh, Can Tho and Phu Tho have established public service units according to the new regulations.

Most of the grassroots agricultural extension staff and village collaborators are currently temporarily inactive and have not been reorganized according to the new model.

Many community agricultural extension groups still operate in the old form, not yet adjusted to the new administrative unit, leading to disruptions in technical support for farmers.

A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that the lack of grassroots agricultural extension forces has caused activities in many places to be disrupted.

Circular 60: Perfecting the national agricultural extension system

Implementing the direction of General Secretary To Lam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Party Committee to urgently develop and issue Circular No. 60/2025/TT-BNNMT dated October 14, 2025, effective from October 15, 2025.

The two main contents of the circular include: Provincial Agricultural Extension (Provincial Agricultural Extension Center) is a public service unit under the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Commune Agricultural Extension is a public service unit under the People's Committee of commune, ward, and special zone levels.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam chaired the conference.

Chairing the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam said that the ministry has proposed a plan to improve the agricultural extension system in the direction of closely following the locality, being close to the people and directly serving the people. The provincial agricultural extension center will be responsible for guiding, coordinating, inspecting and supporting the commune level in implementing agricultural extension work.

At the commune level, each administrative unit will establish a public service unit to provide essential services, including agricultural extension, with 2-3 full-time officials. Each commune will have at least 5-6 officials in charge of the agricultural sector, ensuring that agricultural extension activities are maintained continuously and effectively, contributing to the development of sustainable and modern agriculture.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam assessed that according to the new model, the entire local agricultural extension system is reorganized at the provincial and communal levels to streamline focal points and bring agricultural extension activities closer to farmers.

"According to the circular, localities must arrange and establish agricultural extension units at the commune level, to be completed before October 30, 2025," Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam emphasized.

ANGEL

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/sap-xep-lai-mang-luoi-khuyen-nong-ca-nuoc-truoc-ngay-30-10-post818502.html