Many cooperatives in Hanoi have been developing green agricultural models that are safe and environmentally friendly. Illustration photo: collected

Many specific policies to support agricultural development

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh said that in recent years, agriculture, farmers and rural areas in the Capital had achieved many important achievements: agriculture continued to develop in the direction of concentrated goods, applying high technology, increasing added value and sustainable development. However, besides the achievements, agricultural and rural development was still not commensurate and had not fully exploited the potential and strengths of the Capital: the scale of production was still small, supporting farmers to cooperate in production and product consumption; the application of digital transformation in agriculture and farmers was still limited...

Speaking at the dialogue conference with farmers in the capital in 2024 with the theme "Promoting the potential and advantages of the Capital, supporting farmers to cooperate, apply digital transformation, develop agriculture, and sustainable rural economy", Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that it was the first time that Hanoi had exported US$ 1 billion worth of agricultural products in 2023, statistics showed that the city's agricultural products exported more than US$ 800 million in the first 6 months of 2024. With this momentum, Hanoi in 2024will certainly export more than 2023. In addition to agricultural products, craft village products also exported quite well. The city had assigned the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with international organizations to bring the two craft villages of Van Phuc and Bat Trang into the world's network of handicraft villages, opening up a direction for product export.

From a business perspective, Ms. Pham Thi Ly, Director of Tien Duong Organic Agriculture Cooperative, Tien Duong Commune, Dong Anh District, said that Tien Duong Organic Agriculture Cooperative was currently implementing a chain of 5 houses, applying the model "Organic microbial solutions to protect the environment" based on the principle of circulation and regeneration for the soil. In particular, the Cooperative applied CheckVN technology to make information transparent, field diaries and product traceability. This was a pioneering model in Hanoi, which had been accepted and encouraged to be replicated since 2019. Through many years of research and implementation, the benefits of the organic microbial model not only improved the quality of agricultural products, but also contributed to protecting water resources, improving soil health, green growth and combating climate change.

“We hope that the City People's Committee will evaluate and assign the task of coordinating with the Farmers' Association to replicate the model in practice. Because Tien Duong is located in the core urban area, the Cooperative has cooperated with forest growers in Nam Son and Soc Son communes to build an organic medicinal ecosystem under the forest canopy. Currently, more than 10 hectares of yellow tea and medicinal herbs have been initially successful. We recommend that the city assign associations and organizations to coordinate in implementing a short chain of links, from production to consumption and propose that the city upgrade the livestream function of production diaries, and at the same time assign the Farmers' Association to preside over communication and training on the use of this system”, Director of Tien Duong Organic Agriculture Cooperative suggested.

To bring agricultural policies into life

According to Ms. Tran Thuy Lien, Director of Green Farm Me Linh Cooperative, Me Linh District, implementing the Land Law 2024 and the Capital Law 2024, farmers expected to deploy models of land accumulation and concentration, to transform the structure of crops and livestock, policies to support land accumulation, provide capital, transfer technology and improve production conditions. These were practical solutions, helping cooperatives and agricultural enterprises develop sustainably, while increasing the value of agricultural production in Hanoi.

In addition, social security policies, such as support for purchasing voluntary social insurance, had also received great attention. This policy not only brought long-term stability but also helped farmers enjoy retirement benefits like workers in other industries. "I hope the City will continue to implement the policy of supporting funding for purchasing voluntary social insurance in the 2026-2030 period, expanding the beneficiaries and maintaining the effectiveness achieved in the 2022-2025 period," the Director of Green Farm Me Linh Cooperative proposed.

In the coming time, the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee affirms that there will be specific plans, strategies and visions to create momentum for agricultural and rural development. In particular, it is necessary to do a good job of planning and support farmers in the planning area so that supply does not exceed demand. Farmers' Associations at all levels, together with local Party committees and authorities, also need to participate in supporting farmers. The State will play an effective supporting role as a "midwife", but the initiative and responsibility lie with the farmers themselves. Therefore, each farmer and each craft village also need to change to meet the demand of the new period. Each farmer needs to think of himself as a farmer of the Capital, must create a difference from the way of thinking to the way of doing and specific results.

"These tasks are very difficult, with many challenges to overcome. However, should not shirk responsibility because of difficulties, instead of taking specific actions", the Chairman of the City People's Committee emphasized.