Arrange and streamline more than 35,000 agricultural extension officers nationwide

Among more than 35,000 people working in agricultural extension at all levels, there are 6,281 officials working at agricultural extension centers and stations and more than 5,000 community agricultural extension teams operating at the grassroots level.

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and the Central Organizing Committee on reviewing the system of public service units when operating the two-level local government model (province - commune), the Ministry of Home Affairs coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to synthesize and evaluate the entire system of public service units performing agricultural extension tasks nationwide.

Agricultural extension system at all levels

According to current regulations and the process of arrangement according to the two-level local government model, the agricultural extension system is organized at three levels: provincial level, regional agricultural extension (inter-commune) and commune level, with a network of community agricultural extension teams operating at the grassroots level.

The agricultural extension team is organized on 3 floors (Photo; DT).

At the provincial level, each locality organizes an Agricultural Extension Center under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, carrying out the tasks of agricultural and fishery extension and supporting farmers in production development. Currently, there are 1,763 agricultural extension officers working at these centers.

At the regional (inter-commune) level, 34 provinces and cities have reorganized in a streamlined direction.

Of which, 29 localities established Regional Agricultural Extension Stations under the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center. 3 localities ( Hanoi , Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri) organized Regional Agricultural Service Stations under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 2 provinces (Lao Cai, Quang Ngai) established Regional Agricultural Service Stations managed by the Provincial People's Committee.

After the reorganization, the country has 324 regional agricultural extension stations, with 4,518 agricultural extension officers working.

At the commune level, the team of agricultural extension workers and collaborators continues to be maintained but is not evenly distributed. According to regulations, communes in difficult areas are assigned 2 agricultural extension workers, other communes at least 1 person.

In addition, the country has established 5,187 community agricultural extension groups, each with at least 5 members, operating on the principle of voluntariness, self-management and with support from local budgets.

Thus, the total force directly participating in agricultural extension work has at least about 9,600 people, not to mention more than 25,000 members of 5,187 community agricultural extension groups working voluntarily at the grassroots level.

Legal difficulties and gaps

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the arrangement of the agricultural extension system into a two-tier model helps to streamline the focal points, but also creates many difficulties. Some localities have not yet agreed on an organizational model, especially at the commune level - where agricultural extension workers are lacking, activities are still interrupted or formal. Many community agricultural extension groups have had to temporarily stop waiting for the new mechanism of the Law on Organization of Local Government in 2025.

The Ministry also said that there are currently no legal documents providing specific guidance on the functions, tasks and authority of commune-level agricultural extension organizations, as well as the relationship between provincial agricultural extension centers and inter-commune stations.

Meanwhile, according to transitional regulations, part-time workers at the commune level – including agricultural extension workers – can only continue working until May 31, 2026.

Recommendations for system improvement

To overcome the shortcomings, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development soon issue unified guidelines on the organizational structure, functions, tasks, staffing and regime of the agricultural extension system, ensuring consistency with the two-level local government model.

The Ministry proposed to complete this document before October 15, and at the same time study regulations on arranging at least two agricultural extension officers to work at each commune-level public service unit, ensuring the provision of basic agricultural services to the people.

Localities are also recommended to strengthen the network of community agricultural extension groups, increase training and coaching, and link agricultural extension activities with the program of new rural development and sustainable poverty reduction.

Recently, General Secretary To Lam requested that the arrangement and reorganization of the agricultural extension system must be consistent with the two-level local government model, ensuring that each commune has 5-6 agricultural extension officers but without increasing the total payroll.

Commune level will establish multi-sector, multi-field public service units to perform essential public services, including agricultural and fishery extension and agricultural production support functions.

The General Secretary also directed not to organize regional and inter-commune agricultural extension stations, and at the same time requested ministries, branches and localities to complete the drafting of guiding documents before October 15, 2025 and complete the arrangement of commune-level public service units before October 30, 2025, ensuring a streamlined apparatus and effective operation during the transition period.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/sap-xep-tinh-gian-hon-35000-can-bo-khuyen-nong-ca-nuoc-post297028.html