One year, four seasons, 12 months, and 365 days, the earth's annual rotation approaches the finish. The first landmark of the five-year plan has been reached. The agricultural industry's layer of accomplishments has been thickened. Statistics and reports that were gathered by internal and sub-sectorial groups demonstrated agriculture's "mainstay" position as the economy fell into a spiral of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

More than an earthquake, the Covid-19 epidemic has cast a gloomy shadow over the world. It has had profound and widespread effects on practically every aspect of life, from economy to society, from large to small countries, from civilized to underdeveloped places.

It has effects on the local, national, regional, and global levels. It has an effect on every individual, every family, every organization, every company, and the whole community. In such an unexpected and difficult situation, the growth statistics and accomplishments of domestic agriculture are worth treasuring on the journey of reforming thinking and growth model. 

Each growth figure represents the executive branch's efforts ranging from production management and quality control to trade promotion and market development. Behind each accomplished objective are new ways of thinking, such as agricultural economy, multi-value integration, connecting development space, green agriculture, sustainable development, and inclusiveness.

Behind each export success story is the adaptability of specialized agents, the dynamism of the business community, and the close relationship between businesses and producers; behind each irrigation project that assists in regulating and balancing watering systems, preventing salinity and preserving freshness, and preventing and overcoming natural disasters is the intelligence, enthusiasm, and accountability of scientists and construction management team.

Behind the figures of natural disaster relief on human and property losses as a result of storms and flood waves is the participation of the disaster prevention team, who stay cautious to minimize human loss.

Society's power has been freed and is now accompanied by a state structure. Numerous firms have embraced unique approaches and new values such as organic agriculture, circular agriculture, and digital agriculture... Numerous businesses either suffer through problems or remain prepared to "ride out the storm."

Numerous industrial associations serve the purpose of gathering, networking, leveraging size, and fearlessly conquering the most competitive marketplaces.

Numerous farmers' "in-favor-of-nature" production techniques, such as multi-cropping, rotation, and intercropping, place a lower premium on productivity yet achieve a better-added value per unit area.

Farmers from north to south, from mountainous areas to delta areas and islands, joined forces to promote the image of professional, intelligent, and willing farmers who remain adaptable to change. Numerous enthusiastic specialists and numerous community initiative organizations discreetly help agriculture and farmers in their own unique ways.

In a number of large cities, industrial areas, and economic engines, the memory of social distance is still apparent. Millions of individuals have been compelled to accept the social distancing order with the motto "stay still wherever you are." Although the distribution and circulation systems were nearly shut down, essential commodities and foods continued to be supplied to individual residences. The "green lane" initiative was created but was halted owing to inconsistent regulation across towns; the "package of agricultural commodities" initiative was developed to assist farmers in overcoming obstacles.

Two specialized working groups performed actively and promptly via work excursions between localities to assist in overcoming the congestion of commodities, despite the fact that the direction from the Central to the localities was not comprehensive owing to the pandemic's complicated growth.

The "Forum connecting agricultural production and consumption" was both an effort and a prescription for thinking that identified the market as a signal and indication for positioning and enabling production.

The accomplishments which were considered "significant, comprehensive, and historic" after more than a decade of executing the National Goal Program on rural development will serve as an inherited lesson and development orientation in the next time. Numerous programs are aimed at evoking the vitality and power of rural communities. The Farm Association, House of Wisdom, and similar models progressively spread new ideals through activating farmers' roles in an atmosphere of self-reliance, self-power, and self-management.

The collective economy is characterized by a variety of innovative implementations that have bolstered the dynamism and efficiency of home economic models. The concept "One Commune One Product" engaged the rural economy-related with community tourism by merging several values from indigenous resources, national elite, and innovation.

Not all walkways are strewn with roses 

The Covid-19 epidemic exposed flaws and limits in economic and social life activities worldwide. Agriculture was not an exception to this trend. However, the epidemic was not solely to blame.

Agriculture that "mistakenly" conceals supply and demand data, even in specialized regulatory agencies. A muddled picture of agricultural productivity, harvest time, traceability, and product quality. Uncertainty over standard requirements and fast shifting consumer preferences in an ever-changing world. Congestion at the border gate in the last days of the year was partially explained by the fact that the chain of commodities is still spontaneous.

Transparent agriculture that adheres to international agreements and is on a mission to establish an image and confirm its name cannot allow uncertainty. If you want to be successful at leadership and management, you must rely on data and information; without information, leadership and management are tough. Uncertain information frequently leads leaders and managers into a condition of "obscurity," or misleading.

Agriculture that continues to rely on hazardous fertilizers and pesticides. As a result, consumer trust in food quality, safety, and cleanliness is eroding, forcing agricultural goods to undergo increasingly strict scrutiny by importers.

Agricultural growth has not prioritized input cost reduction and has failed to account for hidden costs such as public health, natural ecosystems, and biodiversity. The continued emphasis on output, the difficulty in coordinating management agencies, the partial ease of customers, and other factors make it difficult for agricultural goods to compete successfully.

Agriculture, when science and technology are constrained by research themes, finds it difficult to provide significant added value. Due to agricultural scientists' tardiness, the quality and diversity of agricultural goods after harvest have improved slowly via categorization, preliminary processing, preservation, and processing.

Modern agriculture must spread knowledge across disciplines, developing low-cost but high-return production systems, increasing worker productivity and mitigating negative environmental consequences.

Agriculture has not yet developed a large number of new varieties but has restored indigenous types with excellent traits that are suited to the soil, climate, and weather conditions, but are still battling with production and output.

And the journey ahead...

A few decades ago, from the way of spontaneous contracting, then it was summarized into innovative resolutions in agriculture, called contract 100 and contract 10 for short.  Thanks to grassroots dedication at the time, agriculture has consistently provided sufficient food for people in the face of natural disasters and diseases.

Vietnam became one of the top 15 exporting countries in the world more than 10 years ago as a result of a strategy of forcefully changing from manufacturing to fulfill domestic consumption demand to export promotion. The "miracle of poverty eradication" and securing national food security for a country with the world's 15th biggest population is the outcome of inventive efforts at every step of the agricultural and rural development industries' growth.

In every different period, the context will change and the approach to the issues must be different.  We think on our previous trip in order to plan for the future. Faced with the effect of climate change, market fluctuations, and consumer patterns, the "green economy" has evolved into a worldwide commitment that will influence agriculture's traditional strategy.

 The fourth industrial revolution and digital transformation are fundamentally altering the economy's operating mechanisms and social mobility. Vietnam's agriculture business will remain slow and may even fall behind the accelerating train unless it shifts its focus to science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Vietnamese people frequently say, "the year ends, the Tet comes".  According to tradition, after the "year ends", each individual, household, organization, and the unit must recount to determine whether they still owe "debts," so that when "Tet comes", their hearts would be light and calm, preparing the mind for the start of a new year cycle. In summary, is this a year with a lot of "good," but a lot of "debt"?

Let us begin a new year with renewed emotion and vigor!

Translated by Linh Linh