Vietnam stands ready to accompany Cuba in achieving food security and self-sufficiency

On the morning of May 14, during the visit of the high-level Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Tri held a bilateral meeting with Cuban Minister of Agriculture Ydael Jesús Pézez Brito.

Also present at the meeting were Mr. José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, Secretary of the Central Committee and Head of the Central Committee for Agriculture and Food; the Cuban Deputy Minister of Agriculture; representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and many senior Cuban leaders. Representatives of companies investing in Cuba’s agriculture sector, such as Agri VMA and Hoang Gia Viet Company, also attended.

This occasion served to reaffirm the spirit of solidarity, provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange experiences in agricultural development, and promote substantive bilateral cooperation.

The two sides exchanged information about the characteristics, conditions, and outcomes of agricultural production in their respective countries. Vietnam has a population of over 100 million people, which is approximately ten times that of Cuba, and a natural land area of roughly 333,000 km², which is three times that of Cuba. Vietnam's seasonal variation is advantageous for diverse agricultural production; however, it can also present obstacles as a result of weather fluctuations and natural disasters. Vietnam has effectively utilized each unit of land area to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural development, despite the limited land resources available.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri underscored the importance of agriculture as a foundational element in all phases of national development, drawing on Vietnam's transformation experience. In the early 1980s, Vietnam experienced food shortages due to a low output of 10–15 million tonnes, as he recalled the hardships. Vietnam has become one of the world's top rice exporters, producing 48 million tonnes of grain annually and attaining an agricultural export value of USD 62 billion in 2024, as a result of bold reforms and a change in production mindset.

In his introduction to Cuba's agricultural situation, Minister Ydael Jesús Pézez Brito noted that a significant portion of the country's agricultural land is either uncultivated or consists of grasslands. He repeated his emphasis on the significance of agricultural collaboration with Vietnam.

The Cuban Minister had previously expressed the desire to enhance cooperation in agricultural production, particularly rice, as a step forward in ensuring Cuba's food security, during meetings with Vietnamese leaders. He also attributed Vietnam's aquaculture models, which are currently under research and implementation, as valuable lessons for Cuba to learn.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri attributed this success to a support ecosystem of processing enterprises, input suppliers, and credit services, as well as a farmer-centred production model and land use rights.

After visiting the rice-growing area in Cuba that Agri VMA had developed, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri noted that the yields in the area exceeded those of numerous regions in Vietnam. This, he said, proves that Cuba has ideal natural conditions for agriculture, with fertile soil, a temperate climate, and relatively good infrastructure. He suggested that Cuba eliminate investment barriers that Vietnamese companies encounter to sustain and expand high-quality rice production models and capitalize on these advantages.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri also expressed hope that Cuba would soon overcome its difficult period, attain food autonomy, and expand its cooperation with Vietnam across various fields. He confirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam is dedicated to assisting Cuba in its forthcoming agricultural development efforts.

At the meeting, both sides recognized the accomplishments of Vietnamese enterprises and resolved to maintain close collaboration. This will involve expanding rice production and attracting Vietnamese firms to participate in other sectors, including aquaculture and livestock.

On Cuba’s part, Minister Ydael Jesús Pézez Brito affirmed that Cuba is sharing and learning from Vietnam’s experiences, and pledged to create all favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in agricultural production in Cuba.

Comrade José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Committee for Agriculture and Food, stated: “Today’s meeting concretizes the instructions of General Secretary To Lam and First Secretary of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel. Given the early results of projects implemented by Vietnamese enterprises, I believe our two leaders will be delighted to witness such effective cooperation.” He affirmed that this represents not only solidarity but also an exchange of development experience between the two nations.

As part of the official visit, the Deputy Minister accompanied Comrade Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, on a visit to Los Palacios district, Pinar del Rio province, and the rice fields invested in by Agri VMA in Cuba.

The pilot rice cultivation project in Cuba achieved an average yield of nearly 7 tonnes per hectare, a figure considered highly positive given the cultivation challenges in the Caribbean nation. This is a very encouraging result, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of the agricultural cooperation model between Vietnam and Cuba, especially in transferring techniques, rice varieties, and cultivation methods adapted to local climatic and soil conditions.