On September 26, 2023, an international forum to share experiences in agricultural production activities between Vietnamese and Japanese farmers, farms, and associations was held at Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) with the aim of exchange, discuss and share experiences in agricultural production activities, and, at the same time, share opportunities to cooperate in implementing activities under the Non-project "Adviser on agricultural human resource development for Vietnam National University of Agriculture" with VNUA being the project owner.

 

Overview of the forum

Dr. Vu Ngoc Huyen, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the University Council, VNUA’s President delivers a speech at the forum

Delivering the opening speech at the of the forum, Dr. Vu Ngoc Huyen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the University Council, VNUA’s President, said that, the Non-project "Consultant on agricultural human resource development for Vietnam National University of Agriculture” for the 2021-2023 period was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on January 5, 2022 according to Decision No. 07/QD-BNN-HTQT with the main contents and activities as follows: Developing recruitment strategy consistent with agricultural development strategy in pilot areas in Vietnam; Designing effective educational programs for Vietnamese interns and workers; Strengthening connections between Vietnamese interns and receiving agencies in Japan (private companies and other organizations); Promoting career continuation activities for returning workers and cooperating with receiving units in pilot areas in Vietnam; Promoting the understanding of the current situation of Vietnamese labor in Japan; Analyzing achievements and challenges to identify ideas for new projects on technical cooperation. Dr. Vu Ngoc Huyen believed that the forum would further enhance the sharing and exchange of experiences in agricultural production between Vietnam and Japan as well as create more opportunities for cooperation in implementing agricultural human resources activities and in agricultural production between Vietnam and Japan’s farmers, farms, and associations.

 

Ms. Tran Thi Loan, Head of the Office of Rural Industries, Department of Cooperative Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, delivers a speech at the forum

Speaking at the forum, Ms. Tran Thi Loan, Head of the Office of Rural Industries, Department of Cooperative Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, outlined the main content of the Non-project "Consultant on agricultural human resource development for Vietnam National University of Agriculture” for the 2021-2023 period. She emphasized that the non-project aimed at improving the quality of human resources was one of three breakthroughs in the country's development strategy. Resolution 19-NQ/TW of the 5th conference of the 13th Central Executive Committee on agriculture and rural farmers set out the task of creating breakthroughs in research and application of science and technology and innovation, and training agricultural and rural human resources. The sustainable agricultural and rural development strategy for the period 2021-2030 and the plan to restructure the agricultural sector for the period 2021-2025 identified the following requirements: Innovating and improving the quality of human resource training in the industry, training high-quality human resources to serve industrialization and modernization, etc., and vocational training for agricultural and rural workers linked to needs of the market, businesses and cooperatives to meet the requirements of the economic restructuring process of rural areas. To implement this strategy well, many breakthrough solutions needed to be implemented. Ms. Loan also hoped that through the forum, delegates would share and exchange experiences in agricultural production between Vietnam and Japan as well as share opportunities for cooperation in implementing agricultural human resource activities.

 

Delegates present and discuss at the forum

At the forum, delegates presented and discussed many contents such as: Overview of Vietnam's agricultural development - Achievements and Challenges; The need to receive agricultural interns in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan; Overview of the university and training courses for technical interns at VNUA; Agricultural Development towards the future; Results of applying high technology in agricultural production at WINECO Tam Dao Farm; Rice farming model to reduce CO2 emissions implemented in Vietnam; Digital transformation in agriculture - Current situation in Vietnam; and Promoting the consumption of OCOP products through e-commerce.

 

Delegates take a souvenir photo at the forum

The delegates shared and discussed many important contents in order to well implement the contents of the Non-project. Through the activities of the Non-project, cooperative relations between Vietnamese and Japanese provinces were developed, thereby promoting trade, socio-economic development between regions and promoting the implementation of professional training programs by Japanese experts. In the coming time, it was essential to continue to strengthen the capacity of employment and career support units for students at universities and colleges in the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector; to support Vietnamese workers returning from Japan to find jobs in Vietnam according to their expertise at businesses/farms where Japanese companies made investment; to organize a job fair for Vietnamese workers returning from Japan in agriculture and related fields; to support and manage labor while working in Japan. Therefore, the delegates agreed that there was a need for continued support from the Governments of Japan and Vietnam so that the Non-Project could continue to maximize the results achieved in the past period.