How to develop a strong agricultural sector – a factor of sustainable development – was an issue under discussion at some workshops held in Hanoi on November 26.
The events, organised by the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, were part of a national teleconference and a national exhibition reviewing the 10-year implementation of the resolution on agriculture, farmers and rural areas, issued at the seventh meeting of the 10th Party Central Committee in August 2008.
Vice Chairman of the Economic Commission Cao Duc Phat said in 2017, agriculture contributed 15.3 percent of total GDP, down 5.1 percent from 2008. The rate of agricultural labourers fell by 12.4 percent to 40.2 percent, while the rate of rural residents decreased by 6 percent to 65 percent.
These figures are predicted to drop in an even faster pace by 2030, respectively down to 10 percent, 25 percent and 55 percent, he said, noting that agriculture now contributes only 1 percent of Ho Chi Minh City’s GDP.
This is an inevitable trend that all countries have to experience on the path to prosperity, Phat said.
An official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said Vietnam is working to develop a modern and sustainable agricultural sector, along with prosperous and civilised rural areas.
To modernise agriculture and improve farmers’ role and living standards, participants called for more conditions for them to change their livelihoods via diverse vocational training programmes.
Additionally, amid global economic integration, it is an urgent need to invest in agriculture and rural development and resolve rural problems so as to industrialise and modernise agriculture and rural areas, they added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac stressed that science and technology have been a driving force of socio-economic development, including in agriculture. They have effectively helped with the expansion of agricultural production and the improvement of productivity, quality and competitiveness of farm produce in the domestic and foreign markets.
MARD Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said agriculture, farmers and rural areas of Vietnam have witnessed strong changes and obtained significant achievements over the last decade since the Party’s resolution was issued. He attributed this outcome to the investment in and development of the agricultural product market.
With higher productivity and quality, agricultural products have helped boost the sector’s annual growth rate to 2.66 percent between 2008 and 2017, and about 3.5 – 3.6 percent this year.
The official also admitted certain problems, elaborating that total investment in agro-forestry-fishery sectors is still low and tends to decline. The policies on mobilising resources for agricultural and rural development haven’t been strong enough. Notably, farm produce supply and demand remain problematic, while the competitiveness of many products is still modest.
At the seminars, participants also discussed experience in forming sustainable agricultural value chains, hi-tech agricultural models, opportunities for Vietnamese farm produce when new-generation free trade agreements take effect, and the State’s support policies for agricultural investment.
VNA
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
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(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Lithuania surpassed $14 million, up 8% year on year. While the increase remains modest, it is notable given the continued pressure on Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU as a whole. More importantly, export turnover to Lithuania has shown a clearer recovery in recent months, making the market a destination worth monitoring for Vietnamese businesses in Europe.
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