Excellent Vietnamese Farmer 2025 Nguyen Thi Hong Minh – Director of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Bac Kan Ward, Thai Nguyen province (previously under Bac Kan City, Bac Kan province). She cultivates turmeric and produces turmeric starch. Photo: Chien Hoang.

Ahead of the 6th Patriotic Emulation Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union in 2025, Mr. Nguyen Van Phan – Member of the Standing Committee of VNFU, Director of the Farmers’ Affairs Department – had an important interview with Today Rural Newspaper/Dan Viet e-newspaper.

With the theme “Solidarity – Innovation – Creativity – Emulation for a strong Vietnam Farmers’ Union, confidently advancing with the nation into a new era” what significance does this congress hold for officials and Farmers’ Union members across the country?

The 6th Patriotic Emulation Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, taking place on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Union’s founding (October 14, 1930 – October 14, 2025), is profoundly meaningful. The theme is not just a slogan but a message and strategic direction for officials and members nationwide. Its significance can be viewed through the following dimensions:

First, the Congress honors collectives and individuals—ordinary yet extraordinary farmers—who have made tireless efforts, achieved remarkable success in production and business, enriched their families, and contributed to society. This recognition is both an acknowledgment and an encouragement of the silent dedication of millions of farmers across the country.
It is also a moment to reflect on the VNFU’s proud 95-year journey and the patriotic, revolutionary tradition of Vietnam’s farming class.

Second, the Congress highlights innovation and creativity to help farmers confidently enter a new era. It sets out aspirations for prosperous agriculture, wealthy farmers, and modern, civilized rural areas—contributing to the nation’s centennial development goals.
The Congress will also launch emulation movements aligned with current development needs, such as agricultural digital transformation, green and circular economy development, sustainable value chain building, and proactive international integration.

Third, this is a Congress of solidarity and organizational strengthening. Solidarity—the first keyword in the theme—remains the core strength of the Union. The Congress provides an opportunity to reinforce unity while also raising expectations for stronger leadership and responsibility at all levels of the Union.
To support farmers in the new era, the Union must continuously innovate its activities, diversify emulation models, and reform reward mechanisms—ensuring it remains a trusted, unifying force for farmers nationwide.

In short, the 6th Patriotic Emulation Congress is not only a major celebratory event but also a powerful source of motivation that ignites patriotism, self-reliance, and creativity across the entire Union system—contributing to national socio-economic development and safeguarding security in 2025–2030.

Could you share the key achievements of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union in implementing the emulation movements launched by the prime minister?

Responding to the Prime Minister’s emulation movements, farmers nationwide have participated with the highest sense of responsibility and through concrete actions, yielding highly impactful and far-reaching results:

First, farmers’ central role in the New Rural Development program has been strongly affirmed.
Farmers have not only been beneficiaries but also active contributors. Over the past five years, they have donated millions of square meters of land, thousands of billions of dong, and more than 3 million working days to build or repair over 36,000 km of rural roads and 27,000 km of irrigation canals—transforming countless villages.
Farmers have also played an active role in cultural development, environmental protection, and social welfare, with health and voluntary social insurance participation rates exceeding planned targets.

Second, the spirit of compassion and mutual support has spread widely, ensuring no one is left behind.
Responding to national movements for poverty reduction and eliminating unsafe, dilapidated housing by 2025, the Union mobilized significant resources: over 100 billion dong through the "Month For the Poor”; 46,914 charity or solidarity houses were built; and 48,232 poor households received assistance.
On the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, over 56 billion dong was raised to build solidarity houses for poor households in Dien Bien province.

Third, farmers demonstrated deep solidarity and resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through the special emulation movement to combat Covid-19, the Union launched the “Millions of Gifts – Thousands of Tons of Meaningful Agricultural Products” campaign, mobilizing nearly 13,000 tons of produce and goods worth 210 billion dong to support frontline forces and affected communities.

Fourth, farmers are increasingly embracing digital transformation.
The Union provided technical training and technology transfer to over 2.8 million members, developed tens of thousands of value-chain production models, and promoted contests like “Farmers’ Technical Innovation” and “I am a 4.0 Farmer.”
Farmers have rapidly adopted e-commerce, digital labeling, smart production, traceability solutions, and online marketing—paving the way for a strong generation of “4.0 Farmers” aligned with the national digital transformation agenda.

What qualitative changes stand out in the movement “farmers emulate in good production and business, unite to support each other in poverty reduction and sustainable development”?

The movement has become a driving force in rural socio-economic life, drawing participation from millions of farmers. Its qualitative transformation is evident in several areas:

First, a shift from individual household production to cooperative, value-chain-based models.
Beyond individual success stories, many farmers have established farms, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and even small and medium-sized enterprises—creating linked chains from production to processing and consumption.

Second, bold adoption of science, technology, and innovation.
Farmers are no longer simply competing in yield but in technological application—developing green and circular economy models.
Hundreds of thousands of outstanding models and over 300 national-level exemplary farmers honored at this Congress have pioneered advanced technologies, reduced pollution, and produced internationally recognized products.

Third, strong humanitarian values and social responsibility.
“Helping each other get rich” has become a defining cultural norm.
Over five years, exemplary farmers have supported more than 815,000 disadvantaged households with seeds, livestock, materials, and technical guidance—worth more than 6,720 billion dong—helping over 108,000 poor households escape poverty.

What lessons has the Vietnam Farmers’ Union drawn from its emulation and commendation work?

The Union has distilled several key lessons:

1. Emulation must closely align with the Party’s and State’s political tasks, addressing practical issues faced by localities and farmers.
2. Criteria must be specific, practical, and tied to the Union’s key tasks and performance results.
3. Commendation must be accurate, fair, transparent, and timely—prioritizing grassroots officials, union members, and contributors.
4. Regular inspection, identification of best practices, and capacity-building for emulation staff are essential.

These four lessons learned are closely interconnected. I am confident that a thorough understanding and creative application of these lessons will enable the emulation and commendation work of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union in the coming period to become increasingly in-depth, substantive, and effective.

Thank you very much, Sir.