Illustrative image (Photo: ) This is part of a series of policy dialogues and communication events on green,low-carbon and sustainable agriculture development implemented by the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in collaboration with the WB toorient the vision of Vietnam’s agricultural sector to 2050 towards green, lowcarbon and sustainable development.
In his remarks at the event, Minister Hoan said the ministry is drafting theSustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy to 2030 with a vision to2050, aiming to restructure the agriculture sector, develop rural economylinking with new-style rural development.
At the dialogue (Photo: VNA) The strategy is designed around three pillars: “ecological agriculture”, “modern countryside”,and “smart farmers”.
The minister underlined the necessity for the sector to have a far-sighted vision and boldactions in order to speed up green and sustainable agricultural transformation,saying that changes in agricultural development model are needed for ensuring sustainability,competitiveness and resilience in the face of challenges.
Minister Hoan stressed that with new thinking, Vietnam can aspire to become a country of ecological and carbon-neutral agriculture insteadof just a food production powerhouse.
However, in order to make breakthrough changes, the agricultural industry cannot do italone. It needs companionship and support of relevant ministries, sectors andlocalities, as well as organizations and individuals at home and abroad, hesaid.
WB CountryDirector for Vietnam Carolyn Turk said agriculture is one of the maincontributors to climate change when it causes greenhouse gas emissions (GHGemissions). GHG emissions are forecast to reach 120 million tonnes of CO2 by2030, up to half of which will come from the rice industry.
Vietnam has made a strong commitment at COP26 to achieve net zeroemissions by 2050, reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030, she said,noting that this is a challenge for Vietnam's rice industry.
WB will continue to cooperate, provide technical assistance, and expandinvestment activities with the MARD to help Vietnam move towards a brighterfuture for its agricultural sector, she affirmed.
Martien VanNieuwkoop, Global Director for theAgriculture and Food Global Practice in the WB's Sustainable DevelopmentPractice Group said that Vietnamneeds to change public spending in agriculture, create appropriate incentivemechanisms, and re-evaluate public investment in agriculture.
Attention should bepaid to changing the structure of land ownership to solve the problem of small-scaleproduction, which directly affects the development speed of the agricultural sector,he said, adding that it is necessary to have public-private partnerships tomake proper investment decisions for agriculture./.
VNA
