Hanoi (VNA) – From a food-deficient sector, Vietnam has risen to become one of the world’s leading exporters of major agricultural products. Smart farming models, digitalised farms, and precision agriculture are increasingly widespread, raising expectations for a modern, low-emission, sustainable agricultural sector that can adapt to climate change.

According to Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, the current success of the sector stems from timely and appropriate policies such as support for capital, land, agricultural insurance, trade promotion, and especially the promotion of science and technology. From mechanising fields, using high-yield and quality crop and livestock varieties, to applying digital and smart technologies, these efforts have increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved product quality and value. Farming approaches have also shifted – from merely pursuing output to enhancing quality, developing value chains, aligning production with market demand, and boosting competitiveness.

A prominent example of agricultural science achievements is in plant breeding, particularly rice. According to Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Plant Production and Protection Department, high-quality rice varieties now occupy 70% of cultivated land, including the ST25 variety, which has been recognised as the world’s best-tasting rice.

With good seeds and advanced cultivation techniques, annual rice production reaches 43 – 44 million tonnes, making Vietnam one of the world’s top three rice exporters. Vietnam is also pioneering a project on planting one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta. These green labelled paddy fields now supply demanding markets such as Japan and Europe at premium prices.

Vietnam was the first country globally to successfully produce an African swine fever vaccine, while domestic research institutes have mastered many modern biotechnologies.

However, challenges remain, including climate change, extreme natural disasters, intense export competition, increasingly stringent quality standards, green and clean production requirements, traceability, and fragmented, small-scale production.

To overcome these obstacles, Deputy Minister Tien stressed the need to help farmers access smart technologies, build a digital agriculture ecosystem, and strengthen the farmer-scientist-enterprise-government linkage to align production with value chains and consumption regions.

Notably, the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation marks a strategic milestone. Mechanisms such as output-based contracting, granting genuine autonomy, and promoting the science and technology market will enable research organisations to no longer be “outsiders” but to “lead” the innovation process./.