Farmers' Forum

In accordance with Regulation No. 429-QDi/TU dated July 1, 2022, of the Standing Committee of the Son La Provincial Party Committee on direct dialogue between heads of Party committees and governments at all levels; heads of provincial departments and agencies with the people; and Plan No. 169/KH-UBND dated June 26, 2024, of the Son La Provincial People's Committee on organizing a dialogue conference between the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and farmers of Son La province in 2024.

The conference, themed "Supporting Son La Farmers in Linking Production and Product Consumption to Promote Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development," aimed to strengthen understanding and connection between Party committees, government agencies, departments, and socio-political organizations with farmers. This fostered farmers' trust in the leadership of Party committees at all levels and the management and administration of government agencies. The conference also affirmed the role, position, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of farmers in building sustainable new rural areas towards ecological agriculture, civilized farmers and rural residents, and comprehensive development, so that agriculture becomes the backbone of the economy.

Specifically, this is to implement Resolution No. 46 dated December 20, 2023, of the Politburo on reforming and improving the quality of activities of the Vietnam Farmers' Association to meet the requirements of revolutionary tasks in the new period; Decision No. 182 dated February 20, 2024, of the Government approving the Project "Vietnam Farmers' Association participates in the development of collective economy in agriculture until 2023"; and Resolution No. 19 dated June 16, 2022, of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Dialogue conference between the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and farmers. Photo: Van Ngoc

Mr. Nguyen Huy Anh, Chairman of the Son La Provincial Farmers' Association, stated: Following the 2023 Dialogue Conference, departments, agencies, and localities have proactively and comprehensively implemented tasks and solutions, reviewing and advising on amendments and additions to mechanisms and policies to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Many mechanisms and policies supporting agriculture, farmers, and rural areas have been issued throughout the province and localities, creating uniformity and consistency in mechanisms; promoting innovation and creativity in the implementation process in the spirit of "daring to think, daring to act, and daring to take responsibility."

The issuance of mechanisms and policies has helped create favorable conditions, resources, and an environment to encourage investment, support farmers in production and business, and promote sustainable agricultural and rural development. Agriculture continues to develop in both scale and production level, maintaining growth and affirming its important position as a pillar of the economy.

Agricultural production and business are developing strongly in the direction of restructuring crop and livestock production, applying science and technology, improving quality and added value, leveraging regional and local advantages, and adapting to climate change. The organizational system of agricultural production and business is increasingly perfected; the proportion of processed agricultural products is gradually increasing, the consumer market is expanding, and exports are rapidly increasing in terms of volume, value, and the proportion of high-quality products.

The educational level of farmers has been gradually improved; agricultural production thinking has been constantly innovated, gradually adapting to the socialist-oriented market economy. Farmers have better played their role as key players, participating in cooperation, linkages, restructuring production, developing the economy, restoring and developing rural industries, building new rural areas, preserving national cultural identity, and maintaining political security, order, and social safety.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, speaks at the conference. Photo: Van Ngoc

Answering farmers' questions

In his opening remarks at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, stated: To date, many of the province's policies and guidelines have been implemented by various levels, sectors, and localities, achieving many remarkable results. Notably, the agricultural sector's structure has shifted positively towards better exploiting the potential and advantages of each region, contributing to increased productivity and output, and gradually bringing about higher efficiency.

As of October 30, 2024, Son La province had consumed and exported 7,358 tons of strawberries; 81,010 tons of plums; a total of 70,882 tons of mangoes had been harvested and consumed; 77,000 tons of longan had been harvested and consumed; and 53,739 tons of bananas had been consumed...

The security and political situation, as well as social order and safety in rural areas, have been maintained. The appearance of rural areas continues to undergo many changes; the economy is developing in the direction of increasing industry, services, and trades, and greening. The national target program for building new rural areas has achieved many positive results, contributing to improving the lives of people in rural areas; the political system in rural areas and the Farmers' Association have been strengthened.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Anh, Provincial Party Committee member and Chairman of the Son La Provincial Farmers' Association, speaks at the conference. Photo: Van Ngoc

To ensure the conference achieves high results, the Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee requested that delegates, including officials, farmer association members, and representatives of businesses and cooperatives participating in the dialogue, demonstrate utmost frankness and openness, focusing on discussions, exchanges, and concise, clear, and specific opinions on various fields, with a particular focus on issues related to agricultural development, farmers, and rural areas that are receiving attention from farmers and society as a whole.

Highlight the difficulties, obstacles, shortcomings, and limitations in production and business activities, especially in the implementation of central and provincial policies and mechanisms, and in the implementation of programs to support farmers in starting businesses... Boldly offer suggestions, contribute opinions, and propose solutions to support farmers in starting businesses, developing production and business along the value chain, building a civilized and sustainable new rural area; promoting the leading role of farmers, and building a strong Farmers' Association.

For relevant departments and agencies, when receiving questions, suggestions, or proposals from farmers' association members: Listen seriously and consider the opinions; provide accurate, relevant, and satisfactory answers that address the core issue, are concise and easy to understand; avoid being vague or evasive; and ensure compliance with regulations regarding the opinions and suggestions.

Representatives from the Mai Son District Farmers' Association posed questions to the organizing committee. Photo: Van Ngoc

Mr. Luong Van Muoi, a member of the Farmers' Association in Song Ma district, said: Currently, his family is cultivating more than 5 hectares of longan trees. To achieve high value from longan trees, Mr. Muoi has staggered the harvest by structuring the trees with the early-ripening T6 longan variety, combined with using Kaliclrat to treat 10% of these trees to induce extremely early flowering and fruiting. Thanks to this, as early as April, his family has longan to sell on the market at incredibly high prices of 30-35 thousand VND/kg.

However, during the cultivation process, his family faced certain difficulties regarding capital for expanding the cultivated area, farming techniques, and internal road access to production areas. Through today's conference, Mr. Luong Van Muoi hopes that the authorities will have specific mechanisms to promote the development of fruit trees in Son La province.

Source: trangtraiviet.danviet.vn