Prime Minister: 'Every farmer is a soldier in the fields'

"Every farmer is a soldier in the fields, who must adapt to all circumstances, fight to the end, and win," the Prime Minister emphasized.

'Every farmer is a soldier in the fields'

On the morning of December 10th, at the Government Headquarters, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, in coordination with the Government Office and various ministries and agencies, organized the 7th Conference of the Prime Minister's Dialogue with Vietnamese Farmers in 2025.

In his remarks at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure at attending the 2025 Prime Minister's Dialogue with Farmers Conference, held in a hybrid format combining in-person and online participation at 34 locations nationwide, along with leaders from various ministries, sectors, and localities.

The Prime Minister chaired the dialogue conference with farmers in 2025. Photo: Le Hieu.

“I am very pleased to have soldiers on the agricultural front today. Every farmer is a soldier who adapts to all circumstances, fights to the end, and wins. On behalf of Comrade To Lam and the leaders of the Party and State, I would like to extend my respectful greetings, sincere regards, and warmest congratulations. This is the fourth time the Prime Minister has held a dialogue with the peasantry in general and outstanding farmers in particular,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

“With the spirit of ‘3 closes, 4 don’ts, and 5 musts,’ including dialogue, organizing today’s dialogue is very significant. We will review the impact of those four dialogues over the past five years on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. Looking back over the past five years, what developments have occurred in agriculture, farmers, and rural areas compared to the previous period, or compared to last year, to identify what is good and what is beneficial so that it can be replicated, what obstacles need to be removed, and what is not good.”

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: 'Every farmer is a soldier in the field'. Photo: Le Hieu.

The spirit is one of unity within the Party, among the people, internationally, and domestically; farmers must unite to gain strength, they must link together, fight together, and win together.”

Secondly, farmers must know how to cooperate to create benefits. Our ancestors taught us: "One tree alone cannot make a forest, but three trees together can form a high mountain." Besides the themes of science and technology and digital transformation among farmers, this year I want to emphasize two more issues: How to develop the private sector in agriculture; and how to overcome the recent natural disasters?

Thirdly, continuing to participate in the Party Congress Resolution, looking back at 40 years of reform, agriculture, farmers, and rural areas have played a particularly important role. After 40 years of reform, from a country devastated by war, we have escaped poverty and become a major agricultural exporter, making the country a brand name in agriculture. Many countries want Vietnam to cooperate in ensuring food security, which is a source of pride for us."

The Prime Minister stated that by 2025, Vietnam will become an upper-middle-income country with an average per capita income of over $5,000; this is thanks to industry. To achieve the goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045, Vietnam must rely on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

The Prime Minister requested that delegates analyze the situation, clarify the causes, and propose solutions; at the same time, share their impressions and feelings about agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, their concerns and anxieties, and their suggestions and ideas for further national development and the rapid achievement of the two centenary goals set forth.

Prior to the Conference, the Vietnam Farmers' Association received more than 5,000 opinions, suggestions, and recommendations from officials, members, and farmers addressed to the Government and the Prime Minister.

Tighten management to ensure food safety

Attending the conference and answering a question from outstanding Vietnamese farmer Nguyen Thi Tram (Bac Ninh province), Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang affirmed that food safety issues for agricultural products, livestock, and crops will undergo a strong transformation.

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang (center): "The issue of food safety for agricultural products, livestock, and crops will undergo a strong transformation." Photo: Le Hieu.

According to Minister Tran Duc Thang, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Farmers' Association, and the Women's Union have coordinated to implement a program to promote and encourage the production and business of safe agricultural products for four years, aiming to change perceptions and production methods.

Starting January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will officially coordinate with relevant agencies to pilot the management of durian, requiring traceability of origin, growing areas, and packaging facilities for both domestic consumption and export. The goal is to strictly control and eliminate unsafe products containing prohibited toxic substances such as cadmium or yellow dye, which are not permitted to circulate in Vietnam or on international markets.

The Ministry also aims that by the end of 2026, essentially all agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products produced or exported from Vietnam will be traceable, thereby eliminating unsafe products; reducing dependence on imports; and developing raw material areas for animal feed.

Outstanding farmer Nguyen Thi Tram (Bac Ninh province) asked a question at the conference. Photo: Le Hieu.

Regarding the livestock production chain, Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that the key weakness is the excessive dependence on imported raw materials for animal feed (accounting for 70-80% of total demand). This dependence significantly impacts the cost and stability of the industry. The Ministry is working with large domestic enterprises and corporations such as Hung Nhon and Tan Long... to coordinate and encourage the involvement of local authorities in developing areas for growing animal feed raw materials.

"If done well, in coordination with local authorities, we will reduce dependence and organize direct consumption for farmers, especially for large farms that need a huge amount of raw materials," said Minister Tran Duc Thang.

Regarding rice exports, Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that there have been difficulties recently due to fluctuations in the Philippine market; however, the market remains very stable and Vietnam does not need to worry too much. The global rice market is large, with over 200 markets and approximately 60 million tons per year. With an export volume of around 7-8 million tons per year, Vietnam still has a solid market.

The Minister urged rice businesses to proactively develop into potential markets such as Africa and Southeast Asian countries. The Minister placed high expectations on the "1 million hectares of high-quality rice" program in the Mekong Delta. Once the program is completed and products are available by 2025, Vietnam will be able to strengthen its access to the Japanese market – a demanding but very stable market that allows for the consumption of products at high prices, befitting the top-quality Vietnamese rice.

Regarding the training of human resources in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is ready to utilize its 34 affiliated vocational schools to meet the orders of businesses, training high-quality human resources in the fields of livestock farming, crop cultivation, and agricultural production, directly serving new value chains.

The 2025 Prime Minister's Conference for Dialogue with Vietnamese Farmers has the theme: "Applying science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in farmers".

Also attending the Conference were the Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Bui Thi Minh Hoai; the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, Luong Quoc Doan; the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Tran Duc Thang; the Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion, Dao Ngoc Dung; the President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Nguyen Dinh Khang; the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Bui The Duy; and representatives of 150 exemplary farmers and cooperatives nationwide.

At 34 locations, including the headquarters of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities, participants will include the Chairpersons of the People's Committees; leaders of relevant departments, agencies, and units of the localities; and exemplary farmers, cooperatives, and businesses in the agricultural sector in the localities. More than 5,000 opinions were submitted by farmers nationwide in advance of the event.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-chinh-phu-moi-nong-dan-la-mot-chien-si-tren-dong-ruong-d788612.html