The ceremony was not only an occasion to review the glorious 80 years journey but also a milestone marking a new era of development oriented towards ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, civilised farmers, and sustainable natural resource and environmental protection.
Over eight decades accompanying the nation since 1945, Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector has traversed an extraordinary path. Immediately after national independence, under the Party’s and President Hồ Chí Minh’s leadership, the sector launched production campaigns to overcome famine, laying the foundation for a new economy. During the resistance wars (1945-1975), it sustained production, delivering the miracle of “not a single kilogram of rice short, not a single soldier missing,” turning barren lands into bountiful harvests that nourished the revolution.
Following national reunification in 1975, despite a devastated economy and ruined infrastructure, the sector swiftly restored production, established cooperatives and state farms, reclaimed land, developed irrigation systems, reforested, and regained food security by the late 1970s. The Đổi Mới reforms of 1986, with household contracting policies (Khoán 10, Khoán 100) and the 1993 Land Law, liberated productive forces, empowered farmers, shifted economic structure, and promoted technology application. From a food-deficit nation in the 1980s, Vietnam achieved food security and emerged as a global agricultural export powerhouse.
Rice, coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, seafood and fruit now rank among the world’s top five exporters, generating tens of billions of U.S. dollars annually. Agricultural, forestry and fishery exports surged nearly fiftyfold over three decades, reaching 62.5 billion USD in 2024, placing Vietnam among the world’s top 15 exporters. Serving over 60 percent of the population living in rural areas, the sector has transformed the countryside through the New Rural Development Programme, drastically reduced poverty, and lifted millions of households out of destitution. Forestry has become the nation’s “green shield,” aquaculture and salt production have enriched coastal communities, while marine resource and environmental management have pioneered ecosystem protection, sovereignty enforcement and fulfilment of international commitments.
The year 2025 marks another historic milestone as the 15th National Assembly resolved to merge the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, officially establishing the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on 1 March 2025. This merger aims to enhance national resource management efficiency, streamline organisational apparatus, ensure seamless operations, and accelerate fast, sustainable development.
Over eight decades, the sector has been bestowed numerous noble decorations by the Party and State, affirming its role as an economic pillar, livelihood foundation and key driver of national industrialisation and modernisation.
In his keynote address, Minister Trần Đức Thắng declared: “Throughout 80 years, we have every reason to take pride in an agriculture sector bearing the sacred mission of ensuring national food security and maintaining social stability; and in a forestry sector serving as the green shield protecting the country’s environment and ecology.”
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Tô Lâm affirmed the strategic position of the agriculture and environment sector in national construction and defence, managing vital resources – land, water, forests, minerals and the environment. “Every inch of land, every river, every forest, every sea area is not merely living space but also an integral element of national sovereignty,” he stressed. Developing agriculture and protecting the environment is not solely an economic task but also a political, cultural, social and security imperative directly linked to the lives of over 100 million citizens.
While commending the sector’s 80 year achievements – from production campaigns in Hồ Chí Minh’s era and wartime miracles to post-Đổi Mới breakthroughs that made it an economic pillar contributing to GDP growth, social stability and poverty reduction – the General Secretary frankly pointed out persistent challenges: depleting resources, overloaded environment, fragmented farmland, mineral loss, severe pollution and climate change threatening food security. Agriculture remains small-scale with low added value; farmers face hardship; value-chain linkages are weak; science-technology application has yet to achieve breakthroughs. “These are not merely technical issues but political, social and moral questions of development,” he analysed.
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To overcome these challenges, General Secretary Tô Lâm outlined major orientations: perfect transparent institutions and land-resource policies to prevent loss and corruption; accelerate science-technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and big data; strengthen extension services and scientist-enterprise-cooperative-farmer linkages; restructure towards ecological agriculture with higher value and export not only products but also technology and experience; rationally plan resources, restore ecosystems and address climate change in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and coastal regions; unblock green capital, streamline administration, build a compact apparatus with integrity; realise the vision of “Ecological Agriculture – Modern Countryside – Civilised Farmers”; and safeguard every river, forest and sacred sea area.
Patriotic emulation congress highlights outstanding achievements
Combined with the 80th anniversary ceremony, the First Patriotic Emulation Congress served as a solemn forum to honour exemplary collectives and individuals and ignite a new emulation movement across the sector. Attended by senior Party and State leaders, thousands of officials, civil servants, employees and international representatives, the event radiated unity and enthusiasm.
Minister Trần Đức Thắng reviewed the 80-year journey and launched the new-phase emulation movement, reiterating the sector’s sacred mission and commitment to President Hồ Chí Minh’s bequest of building a more prosperous and beautiful country. Key campaigns launched include “Whole Nation Joins Hands Building New-Style Rural Areas,” “Whole Nation Joins Hands for the Poor – Leave No One Behind,” “Innovation and Digital Transformation in Agriculture and Environment,” “Enrich and Clean Land Data,” and “Action to Reduce Plastic and Nylon Pollution.”
During 2020-2025, the sector recorded remarkable results: 15 National Emulation Fighters, 65 Government Emulation Flags, 4 Independence Orders, 379 Labour Orders of various classes, 606 Prime Minister’s Certificates of Merit, and thousands of ministerial honours.
The congress honoured 30 outstanding cooperatives, 24 exemplary farmers and farm owners, 57 collectives and 151 individuals for exceptional performance. Notably, General Secretary Tô Lâm, on behalf of the Party and State leadership, presented the First-Class Labour Order to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for its outstanding contributions to GDP growth, socio-economic development and socialist construction.
Artistic performances vividly recreated the sector’s historical journey, stirring national pride and inspiring creativity for the future.
Future orientation and call to action
Building on 80 years of achievements, the sector is now targeting strategic goals aligned with the digital era and Industry 4.0. Minister Trần Đức Thắng identified five priority tasks: perfect legal frameworks; develop ecological, green and circular agriculture with low-emission models, green standards and Vietnamese agricultural brands featuring traceability and geographical indications; sustainably manage national resources and ensure water security; promote science-technology, digital transformation and climate-resilient varieties; and strengthen governance, mobilise green finance and participate in global net-zero and low-carbon initiatives.
General Secretary Tô Lâm called for effective implementation of Resolution 57 on science-technology and innovation, building integrated national databases on land, resources, water, forests, meteorology and biodiversity. He urged the entire sector to renew mindset and action to contribute to the 14th Party Congress and the goal of a strong, green and sustainable Vietnam.
The ceremony concluded in jubilation and pride, opening a new chapter for the sector. Under the Party’s leadership, with the people’s support and the spirit of patriotic emulation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue writing glorious pages of history, helping realise the nation’s aspiration of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045.
Hải Đăng