Vietnamese women: The contributors to ensuring food security and preserving indigenous cultural values

According to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Vietnamese women are responsible for 60-80% of the country’s food production. Specifically, in the production chain of rice – Vietnam’s strategic agricultural commodity, women make up 80% of the labor force, from sowing to harvesting.

Thanks to the contributions of female farmers, female managers, and female scientists, Vietnam’s agriculture sector has achieved remarkable results in recent years. The community of woman farmer ensures domestic food security, and Vietnamese agricultural products are present in 190 countries and territories. In 2023, the export value of agricultural products reached 53 billion USD.

Beyond agricultural production, rural Vietnamese women play a crucial role in preserving and developing indigenous cultural values, contributing to the construction of an advanced culture rich in national identity.

The United Nations have issued an urgent call to accelerate actions to achieve SDG 5. Therefore, the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 initiative is a meaningful occasion for the international community to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in agriculture. The International Year of Woman Farmer 2026 initiative also allows us to honor women in agriculture.