Opportunity for the agricultural extension system to innovate and develop

Recently, the National Agricultural Extension Center held the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Agricultural Extension in Ha Long City (Quang Ninh).

Wherever there are farmers, there is agricultural extension

The year 2023 marks the 30-year journey Vietnam Agricultural Extension Center builds, develops, and accompanies the country's agriculture.

Overcoming difficulties and challenges through periods, Vietnam Agricultural Extension has affirmed the steadfast spirit of the entire system. Vietnam Agricultural Extension has united, joined forces, and unanimously determined on building an increasingly strong system, always being a pioneering force in the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas.

"On behalf of those working in agricultural extension, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the former leaders and agricultural extension officers through the ages who have devoted their entire lives to the innovation and development of the agricultural extension system. We would like to thank the leadership and direction of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government, ministries, departments, central branches, party committees, and authorities at all levels. Thank you for the companionship of domestic and foreign scientists and partners, as well as millions of farmers nationwide, who are the driving force for the Vietnam agricultural extension system to continue to develop in the coming period. Thank you for the efforts to overcome difficulties and complete the tasks of generations of agricultural extension officers who have determined success over the past 30 years," Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, expressed his emotion at the anniversary.

Attending the anniversary, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that Vietnam Agricultural Extension was born, closely associated with "Tam Nong" (agriculture, farmers, and rural areas). Going through each period of development with different names, the mission for agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in Vietnam has always been the "red thread" throughout the 30-year journey. The development path of agricultural extension is attached to the development of Vietnamese agriculture, from ensuring food security to affirming its position as an agricultural export power. Agricultural extension, with a key role in transferring technical advances and new technologies, created deep impressions, made important contributions to the development of high-value agricultural production, and brought profound economic, political, and social significance.

Faced with new contexts and requirements and intertwined opportunities and challenges, the entire agriculture and rural development sector is shifting its thinking from agricultural production to agricultural economics. This is an opportunity for the agricultural extension system to continue to innovate and develop.

"The agricultural extension sector is always clearly aware of its mission, with the motto 'wherever there are farmers, there is agricultural extension' so that farmers truly become the subject and center of development," Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam emphasized and requested that the agricultural extension system continue to take the lead in the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas to create ecological agriculture with sustainable development, a modern, prosperous countryside, and civilized farmers mastering science and technology.

Come to farmers with all heart

On the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam Agricultural Extension (1993–2023), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan sent a letter of congratulations.

In the letter, the Minister shared: The National Agricultural Extension Strategy is being drafted, which will approach the trend of transforming agricultural extension thinking, taking farmers as the center of all activities of the agricultural extension system, improving welfare for farmers and rural residents, intellectualizing farmers, and forming a team of professional farmers.

'"Wherever there are farmers, there is agricultural extension' is not a slogan but must really be engraved in the minds of those working in agricultural extension," the Minister reminded in the letter, and he hoped that each person in the agricultural extension system who has chosen that glorious task should constantly study and cultivate new knowledge and skills to give to farmers.

"I also hope that every time the agricultural extension team comes to farmers, they come with all their hearts, not only because of their duty but more nobly, they also come because they feel they should come, need to come, must come," Minister Le Minh Hoan shared in the letter.

Finally, the Minister expressed his confidence that the Vietnam agricultural extension system will continuously grow, continue to successfully complete the tasks assigned by the Party and State, and be worthy of the trust and love of millions of farmers nationwide.