Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam; leaders of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Long An, Hau Giang, and Dong Thap provinces; Scientific experts from institutes and schools across the country attended the conference.
Delegates discussed in depth about coordination with the agricultural extension system to implement the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, reducing emissions. At the same time, clarify the role of agricultural extension forces, from central agricultural extension to community agricultural extension as well as the problems and inadequacies in the current activities of community agricultural extension forces.
According to the National Agricultural Extension Center, up to now, in 12 provinces/cities implementing the project, more than 900 community extension groups have been established with over 10.000 members. Most provinces have integrated community extension activities with general activities of the agricultural extension system. In the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, the Community KNC group has promoted its role as a bridge between businesses and farmers quite well, supporting businesses to reach farmers in raw material areas.
However, the activities of the community mobilization force still have many difficulties and limitations such as: Most of the community mobilization officers are part-time so their time is mainly spent on professional work. There is a lack of members with expertise, passion, and experience in agricultural extension work. Agricultural extension activities only focus more on transferring new techniques and do not pay attention to market development, value chain linkage, quality management, and origin traceability. Operating budget is still limited, funding sources for implementation work are not balanced.
Ms. Vo Thi Anh Tam, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Center of Tien Giang province, said that when participating in the Project and implementing Decision No. 1094 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on improving the effectiveness of community agricultural extension groups, the province has established 142 people. Community agricultural extension group with 1458 members. However, the personnel of this force are mainly part-time and do not have legal status, so their activities are mainly coordinated. Currently, the province also shares the same situation as other localities: it has not yet allocated operating funds for the Community Agricultural Extension Team, so its effectiveness is still limited.
Deputy Minister Tran Thanh of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasized that this is a very large project. To achieve the set goals, great determination and efforts of the entire political system and close coordination between the Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are needed. Agriculture and Rural Development with ministries, central branches and especially the proactive participation of provinces in the Mekong Delta region. In which the agricultural extension system, especially the community agricultural extension force, plays a pivotal role in the implementation process, accompanying farmers, helping farmers reorganize production, and providing training and capacity building. and is a bridge between farmers and businesses.
At the same time, the World Bank has agreed to buy carbon credits in a project of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation at a price of about 10 USD/ton. For 1 hectare of rice, farmers have an additional income of about 100 USD from selling carbon credits.
Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam proposed: "Through today's conference, we recommend that you direct the review of agricultural extension forces in the areas. One is the cooperative, the second is the community agricultural extension force for us to measure. If the area does not have an agricultural extension force, we cannot measure it. We hope that you will advise the Department of Agriculture and the Committee to consolidate, strengthen and expand the agricultural extension force in the area. As for specific issues related to agricultural extension, if you have any problems, comrades, please discuss with the National Agricultural Extension Center to resolve them and be ready to take over the work."
