Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan. — VNA/VNS Photo

The agriculture sector concluded 2024 on a positive note, despite facing significant challenges. Việt Nam News reporter Tố Như spoke with Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan to discuss the key strategies and plans the sector will implement in 2025.

In 2024, despite challenges like Typhoon Yagi, the agriculture sector exceeded its targets. Could you share some management and operational strategies that led to this success?

To achieve 2024’s results, we had to first applaud the farmers, especially those affected by Typhoon Yagi. No success is possible without their support.

One key experience is the shift in mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economics at the local level. This change has spread throughout society. Farmers now understand the importance of aligning production with market demands and local governments recognise that production guidance must be market-driven. Regions like Sơn La, Hưng Yên, Hải Dương, the Central Highlands and Southeast Việt Nam actively organised trade fairs to connect with the market.

Previously, the focus was on production, but now the emphasis is on a market-driven approach. Without market stimulation, production faces obstacles.

Secondly, we recognise that markets are diverse, each with its own standards and barriers. Information from ministries is quickly shared with localities and farmers, enabling them to adjust production to market needs. We no longer just produce and sell; we shape production to meet the market's demands. These changes helped agricultural exports reach US$62.5 billion in 2024.

This achievement is the result of a collaborative ecosystem involving ministries, localities, associations, industries and the people, which has developed traditional markets and opened new opportunities, reducing risks across the board.

Given the positive results, particularly in export turnover in 2024, what strategies will the ministry implement to build on these achievements in 2025?

Despite the challenges in the market, there is still much untapped potential we have yet to fully exploit.

Maintaining and growing these achievements, while improving farmers’ livelihoods, is a tough task, but optimism remains if we can better harness available resources.

For example, circular agriculture is still in its early stages. For a long time, farmers have traditionally focused on rice grains, but often overlooked other parts of the rice plant such as straw and husks, which could be used as biomass fuel or for other purposes. By only focusing on raw products like rice grains, we miss out on greater value.

Last year, the Ministry signed a protocol to export frozen durian to China, boosting the proportion of processed products which are far more valuable than raw ones.

Moreover, looking at agriculture from a narrow, single-sector perspective limits the value we can extract. For example, coffee beans were long sold as the main product, while coffee grounds – making up 98 per cent of its value, were discarded. These grounds can be repurposed to grow hydroponic vegetables, improve soil, or even used in cosmetics. Countries that apply circular principles have turned coffee grounds into mushroom-growing material, and the by-products can be converted into animal feed.

The question we need to address is how we can unlock the value of the 98 per cent that is discarded.

Adopting eco-friendly, green agriculture models encourages us to rethink production. Instead of discarding waste and having to spend extra efforts on environmental protection, we can apply circular principles to ensure nothing is wasted. While 2024 was a successful year, the world is changing rapidly and there is still much room for improvement.

2025 is a crucial year for Việt Nam’s agriculture sector, aiming to accelerate progress and surpass targets from the 13th Party Congress Resolution and the National Assembly’s five-year development plan. Could you outline the strategy for this year?

The agriculture sector has already exceeded its 2021-2025 targets, such as surpassing the five billion dollar fruit export goal. Now, we need to set new goals and find ways to advance further in this new era of national resurgence.

Vietnamese dragon fruits were introduced at Fruit Logistica 2024 in Germany. The agriculture sector has already exceeded its 2021-2025 targets, such as surpassing the $5 billion fruit export goal. — VNA/VNS Photo

In 2025, we must think and act differently in agriculture and in the media.

Việt Nam has over 33 million hectares of land and around 100 million hectares of sea. Modern agriculture should look beyond borders, collaborating with countries like Laos, Cambodia, African nations and others interested in agricultural partnerships with Việt Nam.

Fishermen could form offshore fleets, moving beyond the East Sea to explore the Pacific Islands' rich marine resources, avoiding IUU fishing bans. Circular agriculture and multi-layered value creation are key to seizing current opportunities.

During visits to other countries, I’ve noticed that if we fall behind, Vietnamese agricultural products risk losing market access in promising regions. With land shrinking due to urbanisation and challenges in labour as rural populations age, cooperation is essential. Traditional crafts and local specialties need successors to survive.

The ocean offers more than just fish. It includes coral reefs, seaweed and resources for sustainable livelihoods and carbon credits. While some companies have explored this in Khánh Hòa Province, we are far behind countries like South Korea and Japan, where seaweed is a thriving industry.

I’ve discussed with leaders of countries sharing sea areas with Việt Nam. They have suggested forming joint fishing fleets to explore offshore resources. The government will invest in modernising the ships and guide fishermen on laws and how to preserve seafood. A unified, multi-industry approach, supported by government policies and insurance, can secure national interests and support businesses.

Expanding global market access and promoting trade are essential. Could you share more about this?

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, organised a fruit festival in Beijing, China, to boost Vietnamese agricultural products in the Chinese market. To sell at higher prices, we need prominent display spaces in central China, the world’s largest consumer market.

The era of informal border trade is behind us. We must now think bigger, with ministries, embassies and overseas trade agencies ready to support businesses. Agricultural products should be valued beyond food, recognising their potential in medicinal, pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses. For example, honey sold as food fetches a low price, but as a cosmetic, it holds much higher value.

In the rain, if we look down, we see mud, but if we look ahead, we see a rainbow. To reach the rainbow, we must endure a little ‘dirt’. This positive mindset is what we need as we move into a new era. — VNS