Attending and presiding over the launching ceremony were Mr. Luong Quoc Doan - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Union, Chairman of the Central Committee of Vietnam Farmers' Union and Mr. Le Tien Chau - Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Also attending were the Vice Presidents of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union; representative leaders of Farmers’ Unions in a number of provinces and cities; the delegates are individuals, businesses, philanthropists, representatives of international organizations and officials, civil servants, public employees and employees of the Central Office of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union.

Over the past 2 years, the Covid-19 pandemic has broken out strongly with its rapid spread, affecting every aspect of life, economy and society as well as seriously impacting the health, employment and incomes of people. Under the leadership of the Party and State, along with the participation of the whole political system, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union has focused on directing and guiding all levels of Union and its members strictly comply with regulations on prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic; overcome difficulties to maintain production and business, join hands to repel many dangerous outbreaks of pandemic in recent times.
 
At the same time, Farmers’ Union at all levels throughout the country have actively promoted their sense of responsibility and creativity in advising committees and authorities at all levels to organize and mobilize thousands of officials and members, farmers to voluntarily participate in supporting disease prevention and control in localities.
 
Notably, there have been many good models and innovative ways of doing that bring practical effects to members and farmers throughout the country such as: Model "Agricultural Support Team"; “Zero-dong bus ride”; “Zero-dong stall”; “Support for essential purchases for farmers”; “Outlet to support the consumption of agricultural products for farmers”; “Agricultural product consumption points for farmers”… These models have been and are being continued to be developed, with strong pervasiveness in society. Thereby, they will timely support and help members and farmers who have difficulties in life, in production, harvesting and consumption of agricultural products in localities where are implementing social distancing.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chairman of the Central Committee of Vietnam Farmers’ Union Luong Quoc Doan said: It has been a fact that the epidemic is still evolving in a very complicated, unpredictable and uncontrollable manner. Many localities are implementing strict isolation and blockade to prevent and control epidemics... Therefore, many members, farmers in particular and people in the country in general are facing great difficulties in life and desperately need support, help with funding, food, necessities of life.
 
In that spirit, the Standing Committee of Vietnam Farmers’ Union urges all officials, members, farmers, businesses, philanthropists and organizations to promote the spirit of solidarity, "mutual love and affection" of the nation, continue to uphold and respond to the program “Million gifts, thousand tons of agricultural products of affection and gratitude” in order to promptly support and help farmers who are facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those in the southern provinces and cities that are heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to soon overcome difficulties and losses to stabilize their lives.
 
“Each member of the Union at all levels donates at least 1 day's salary; each member and farmer, depending on their circumstances and conditions, those with money will support money, those with agricultural products will support agricultural products, those having less contribute less, those having more contribute more; organizations, businesses, philanthropists continue to support funds, food,  necessities of life to join hands to give strength, together with the whole country to soon repel the pandemic" - Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Luong Quoc Doan encouraged.
Up to now, the program "Million gifts, thousand tons of agricultural products of affection and gratitude" in company with the whole country to overcome the Covid-19 epidemic has received 9,651 tons of agricultural products, more than 179 billion VND in cash and a variety of essential goods from supporting organizations and individuals. Typical examples are namely  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); a number of provincial and city Farmers’ Unions including Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Long An, Vinh provinces Long, An Giang, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city...

In particular, in response to the program "Million gifts, thousand tons of agricultural products of affection and gratitude" launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, there are many examples of excellent Vietnamese farmers who have also actively supported thousands of tons of specialties, agricultural produce, which are home made by themselves.
 
For example, Mr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of Agricultural Cooperative in Nam Son commune - Lien Nghia town, Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province has donated more than 300 tons of vegetables, tubers and fruits (worth more than 2 billion VND) to support people in the Covid-19 areas in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. Mr. Nguyen Van Doan is an example of a productive farmer for many years in Duc Trong district and Lam Dong province. In 2017, he was honored by the Central Committee of Vietnam Farmers' Union and awarded the title of "Excellent Vietnamese Farmer".

Another example is Mr. Phan Khac Nhat Tien in Ward 5, Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province, who donated 15 tons of commercial fish (worth nearly 2 billion VND) to support people in the quarantine area in Ho Chi Minh City and Bac Lieu province. Mr. Phan Khac Nhat Tien is also one of "Excellent Vietnamese Farmers" in 2020. In recent years, with an area of ​​more than 30 hectares of ponds, Mr. Tien has invested in high-tech shrimp and eel breeding and many different species of special fish (barramundi, pearl chain fish, mullet, trout, etc.) so as to help bring high productivity and economic value.
Besides, at the launching ceremony of the Program "Million gifts, thousand tons of agricultural products of affection and gratitude" there was also enthusiastic responses from other excellent Vietnamese Farmers such as: Mr. Ut Huy in Long An province (donating 30 tons of bananas); Mr. Doan Xuan An in Tuyen Quang province (supporting 3 tons of oranges, worth 45 million VND); Mr. Ly Van Bon in Can Tho city (donating 1 ton of rice, 500 kg of fried fish worth 15 million VND)… 

Chairman of the Vietnamese Farmers’ Union Luong Quoc Doan, on behalf of the Standing Committee of Vietnam Farmers’ Union, acknowledged, praised and highly appreciated the sense of responsibility and efforts of the Union's officials at all levels; especially, we would like to thank the spirit of solidarity, unity, mutual love and affection, practical actions, and mutual support to overcome difficulties of members, farmers nationwide, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), philanthropists, businesses, entrepreneurs have shared their love, supported funds, food, necessities of life to support members and farmers facing difficulties due to the pandemic.  

“The Standing Committee of Vietnam Farmers’ Union hopes that all levels of Unions, agencies, units, businesses, entrepreneurs, domestic and international organizations, individuals and philanthropists will continue to join hands and contribute so that the campaign for the program "Millions of gifts, thousand tons of agricultural products of affection and gratitude help the country to overcome the Covid-19 epidemic" could achieve the highest results. It is proposed that the provincial and city Farmers’ Union pay attention to directing, reviewing and mobilizing members and farmers to promote cultural traditions, neighborship, actively participate in supporting households, helping farmers in difficulty at their places of residence. Because no one is faster, closer, understands and knows better than their neighbors what their difficulties are, what they need” emphasized Chairman Luong Quoc Doan.